'Three's *not* a Crowder': 36ers opt for Jenkins

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Former NBA role player Jae Crowder developed a reputation as a tough 3-and-D wing in 927 regular-season and playoff games in his 13-year career – and in equal measures, fearless in big moments or against the world’s best players.

Code Sports Basketball had reported that new Adelaide 36ers head coach Trevor Gleeson had identified the soon-to-be 36-year-old to fill the remaining import spot for NBL27.

But the 36ers have opted to re-sign Josh Jenkins after he averaged 9.9 points per game on 40.2% from behind the arc in 18 games in NBL26.

“Crowder, 35, has emerged as a potential signing, after learning of the virtues of the Australian league while playing alongside former South East Melbourne import Gary Browne and championship-winning Kings Xavier Cooks and Jaylin Galloway with Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico, this off-season,” Code Sports reports.

He’s averaged 13.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 27 games in Puerto Rico this season.

Now that the 36ers have moved on Jenkins, it's believed Crowder's agent is testing the waters with other NBL clubs.

American-born six-time MVP Bryce Cotton is now an Australian citizen, which means the 36ers have freed up an import spot alongside Americans Zylan Cheatham and Nick Rakocevic.

Crowder, who turns 36 on July 6, last played in the NBA in the 2024-25 season, ending his career at the Sacramento Kings. He signed with Vaqueros de Bayamon for the 2026 season.

He earned almost USD $72M during his career, racked up more than 60 technical fouls and was fined USD $217,000. His technical foul count isn’t quite at Rasheed Wallace’s level, but a T in every 12 or 13 games is a pretty solid effort.

Gleeson’s 36ers roster is one of the most settled ahead of NBL27, with NBL26 Grand Finalists Cotton, Cheatham, Rakocevic, centre Isaac Humphries and Flynn Cameron all under contract.

They’ve added Sydney Kings champion and defensive stopper Bul Kuol, who is coming off a season-ending knee injury, to a team that came within a defensive rebound in Game 5 of the Grand Final series of winning it all.

Adelaide 36ers

Head coach: Trevor Gleeson

Contracted: Flynn Cameron, Zylan Cheatham, Bryce Cotton, Ben Griscti, Isaac Humphries, Nick Rakocevic, Isaac White, Keanu Rasmussen

Transactions: Keanu Rasmussen resigns with the Adelaide 36ers; John Jenkins III re-signs with Adelaide 36ers

Incoming: Bul Kuol – Guard/Forward, from Sydney Kings.

Departed: Mike Wells (Head Coach), Che Brogan (University of Ohio – NCAA), Michael Harris, Dejan Vasiljevic (New Zealand Breakers)

Free agents: John Jenkins III, Blake Jones, Matt Kenyon, Deng Manyang, Magok Manyang