How Wisconsin basketball center Steven Crowl can earn a roster spot with the Utah Jazz
Former Wisconsin center Steven Crowl will look to make the most of his Exhibit 10 contract with the Utah Jazz this summer.
Despite not hearing his named called either Thursday or Friday evening during the 2025 NBA Draft, Crowl is poised to represent an NBA squad during its quest for a summer league title. The Jazz kick-start their summer slate with a three-day circuit at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah from July 5-7 before making the trek to Las Vegas the following week.
The one-year, non-guaranteed minimum salary deal enables NBA teams to sign undrafted playmakers to their summer league squads for an opportunity to land on the franchise's G League affiliate -- a low-risk, high-reward move. If Crowl plays extremely well, he could muscle his way into a two-way deal with the team before the 2025-26 season.
Prior to the draft, Crowl did work out with the Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets and Denver Nuggets. Utah's summer league slate will essentially serve as another extended workout against another batch of NBA hopefuls.
Utah will play three games in Salt Lake City from July 5-7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Jazz will then tip off against the New Orleans Hornets (July 11), Golden State Warriors (July 13), San Antonio Spurs (July 14) and Washington Wizards (July 16) in Las Vegas.
To claim one of 15 regular season roster spots or one of three two-way contract opportunities, Crowl will need to showcase his ability to stretch the floor as a 3-point shooter, particularly from the top of the key. As a senior, the Minnesota native averaged 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 54% from the field, a blistering 41% from 3 and 82% from the free-throw line. In today's NBA, that type of efficiency plays.
2024 NBA G League Rookie of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe and former Duke standout Kyle Filipowski are listed ahead on the Jazz's depth chart, so if Crowl hopes to scale the three-man hierarchy, his ability to knock down open shots from outside will be paramount.
One other important factor: rebounding. The 7-footer averaged just under six rebounds per contest across 153 games during his tenure in Madison, although he never attained the role of an enforcer. In fact, following a zero-rebound outing against Illinois as a senior, his former head coach Greg Gard publicly commented on Crowl's lack of aggressiveness down low.
A no-show for Crowl in the painted area cannot happen in either Salt Lake City or Las Vegas. If he corrals three or four rebounds per appearance, plays stout interior defense and disrupts passing lanes near the basket, coaches, scouts and executives may favor his inclusion as a two-way player.
That journey commences on July 5 at 9:00 p.m. EST against the 76ers in Utah.
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