On Tuesday, Jae Crowder addressed messages he has been receiving on Instagram, seemingly responding to death threats. The messages posted to Crowder’s Instagram story read:
“IT’S WILD TO ME THE AMOUNT OF DEATH THREATS I GET ON THE REGULAR HOW CAN PPL SEND ME MESSAGES/MAIL WANTING TO KILL ME BUT NEVER MET ME? I GOTTA UP MY SECURITY SINCE I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE THIS HATE COMING FROM & BEFORE I LET MY GUARD DOWN AND LET ONE OF YOU TAKE ME AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER. STAY BLESSED PEOPLE & CONTINUE SPREADING LOVE. -99.”
Crowder’s rant on social media understandably garnered attention and concern from fans questioning the perpetrator and motive behind the threats. In an interview with the Arizona Republic, Crowder had the following to say regarding the threats he received:
I don’t know who’s behind it. I don’t know what fan base is behind it, [and] I don’t know anything about it. I’m just trying to take precautions and what I need to do to protect myself and my family. That’s what I’m doing.
Despite his concern for his own safety and his family’s well-being, Crowder has found a place as an occasional starter in Phoenix.
If anything, poor play can’t be the motive behind the threats as Crowder is averaging 10.3 ppg, just above his career average. The Suns also currently find themselves in an uncharacteristically high 7th place in the Western Conference.
