Blake Griffin finds some humor within the irony of how some have considered his profession.
A decade in the past – as he turned a nightly spotlight reel together with his electrifying dunks – Griffin’s critics referred to as him too one-dimensional. But now that he can’t bounce like I used to, they’re craving for these days once more.
“I think it’s funny,” Griffin mentioned. “When I used to be youthful everyone complained about how all I did was dunk and now persons are like, ‘I wish he would do what he used to do,’ and I’m such as you guys complained for years about how I couldn’t shoot and now I shoot. …
“But it’s a lesson that you’re never going to please everybody, so as long as you keep moving forward, you’ll be alright.”
And now that he’s 33 and previous his prime, it’s additionally a lesson in evolving to maximise and lengthen one’s profession. Griffin, who formally signed with the Celtics on Monday, is coming into his 14th season with that understanding.
With the C’s, Griffin will not be going to be requested to be the kind of participant that made him a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA choice. With Rob Williams out for just a few months, the Celtics instantly wanted frontcourt depth behind Al Horford and Grant Williams, and Griffin is pleased to take a supporting function at this stage of his profession in pursuit of his first championship. In his phrases, “just bring some stability off the bench.”
“They obviously have centers and Rob and Al that have played big minutes and obviously Al being in the league for 40 years now,” Griffin joked of the 36-year-old Horford. “Just some stability, whatever they need. If Al needs a break, if Rob needs a break, total utility. I didn’t come here demanding a certain type of role. It’s just to fill the gaps and help this team win a championship.”
Griffin mentioned talks with the Celtics began just lately after Williams’ damage, however he has lengthy been intrigued about coming to Boston. The ahead has noticed and heard from afar about how different gamers within the league who’ve been with the C’s have a “pretty cool experience.” That was solely reiterated just a few years in the past as he was leaving the Pistons, when he spoke with Brad Stevens and his curiosity in becoming a member of the C’s sparked.
After being bounced by the C’s within the first spherical of the playoffs final season as a member of the Nets and watching their younger core blossom to the NBA Finals, Griffin couldn’t say no when Stevens got here calling once more.
“This is the kind of opportunity you couldn’t pass up,” Griffin mentioned.
Griffin is barely 4 years faraway from an All-Star season in Detroit, the place he averaged 24.5 factors and seven.5 rebounds per recreation. But accidents have gotten the perfect of him. He wanted two left knee surgical procedures in 2019-20 that restricted him to only 18 video games, and he hasn’t been the identical since. But he’s discovered to adapt and be impactful in numerous methods, and he’s humbled himself to simply accept a bench function – first with Brooklyn final season, and now with Boston.
“I think that’s just part of understanding who you are and where you are in your career,” Griffin mentioned. “I think there’s an opportunity here and the biggest thing for me is playing meaningful basketball, playing basketball in the playoffs and also being part of a good group. I think this place checks that list.”
His early introduction to the C’s this week backs that up. Griffin, who arrived in Boston over the weekend and took part in his first observe on Monday, mentioned he’s talked to virtually everybody and one among his greatest takeaways is how embraced he’s felt.
“I’m actually very … not surprised, but the amount of maturity and like (welcoming the C’s are), it’s a different atmosphere than I was sort of used to, in a good way,” Griffin mentioned. “They’re very welcoming and everybody, 1 through 15 or however many guys are here, in practice was focused, very encouraging, helpful and you kind of take that for granted because it’s not always the case everywhere you go.”
Busting chops
Griffin’s arrival to the C’s got here with a humorous recall that concerned his new head coach. Almost 15 years in the past – on Dec. 29, 2007 – Griffin performed towards Joe Mazzulla in faculty. Griffin, then a star at Oklahoma, had 18 factors and 16 rebounds in a double time beyond regulation victory over West Virginia as Mazzulla scored simply 5 factors off the bench.
Griffin remembers, and reminded Mazzulla as they reacquainted themselves.
“First thing I told him,” Griffin mentioned. “Double overtime win.”
As Griffin will get to know Mazzulla as his coach, although, he’s already been impressed with the 34-year-old who’s an NBA head coach for the primary time.
“Very, very ready,” Griffin mentioned. “I never really had a chance to spend a lot of time around him, but just the way, his approach to the game and the way he speaks to the guys, you can tell he’s been a coach and been an assistant, or whatever here and there, for a while. you talk to certain guys and you’re like, ‘That’s a coach.’ That’s how he is.” …
Mazzulla mentioned middle Luke Kornet is doing OK as he recovers from a sprained left ankle he suffered final week in observe. Kornet, who missed Sunday’s preseason opener, was performing some mild work on the finish of Monday’s observe and remains to be everyday. It’s unsure if he’ll be prepared for the Celtics’ subsequent preseason recreation on Wednesday towards the Raptors.
Source: www.bostonherald.com