Summer league in Seattle becomes huge attraction with NBA veteran Jamal Crawford in charge

With NBA star Jamal Crawford directing the offense and dishing out dimes, Washington men’s basketball forwards Noah Dickerson and Matisse Thybulle put on a show last Saturday in a summer league pro-am game.

Dickerson tallied 30 points and 20 rebounds while Thybulle had 28 points in The Crawsover Pro-Am League, which was formerly the Seattle Basketball Pro-Am.

The two Huskies and Crawford, who finished with 26 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, thrilled the crowd at Seattle Pacific University’s Brougham Pavilion, which included Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.

The league is named after Crawford, who is regarded as one of the best ball handlers in the NBA. The 37-year-old former Rainier Beach High star took over the pro-am in 2013 and infused new life in a league that’s been a mainstay of Seattle summers since Doug Christie started it in 1996.

This year, Thybulle is playing with Crawford on a team called The Unit, which is coached by Rainier Beach High’s Mike Bethea.

In general, there’s not a lot of defense exhibited in summer league games. Still, Thybulle displayed athleticism while driving to the rim and finishing with dunks. And Dickerson emerging as the leading scorer on a team that includes Crawford, the three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner, suggests the UW big man may be improving as an offensive threat.

Dickerson averaged 12.5 points on 54.7 percent shooting from the field last season and Thybule scored 10.5 per game while shooting 44.8 from the field and 40.5 on three-pointers.

Washington incoming freshmen Jaylen Nowell and Michael Carter III also starred in games at the Crawsover last weekend. Nowell had 29 points and Carter 19.

The league began July 1 and runs through August.