Blake Griffin and Chris Paul spent six seasons as teammates on the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite both players being in their prime, they failed to advance past the second round of the postseason. Since their split, rumors have swirled that the two players did not get along.
Speaking on the Run It Back podcast, Griffin shut down reports of a feud, stating:
You watch a clip, you see something, you run with it, it’s a story, it gets clicks, it’s great. And then on top of that, once we all left and went our separate ways, first time I played against JJ [Redick], we got into it. First time I played against CP, we got into it. It just happens.
The nature of bringing people who are uber competitive, even if they played together for a long time and now they’re going against each other, you’re still on the other team. It’s all love after the game, but during the game, no. So that feeds into it as well.
It’s a narrative, and what’s the better story? ‘Oh these guys hate each other’ or ‘yeah, they’re great guys and they all get along, they just didn’t win’. That’s not a story.
Griffin made four All-Star and All-NBA Teams in their six seasons as teammates, while Paul received each honor five times. The former averaged 21.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 52.0%. The latter averaged 18.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 9.8 apg, 2.2 spg and 0.1 bpg. He shot 47.5% from the field, 37.8% from three-point range and 88.1% from the free-throw line. He also won two assists titles and three steals titles.
Blake Griffin shares thoughts on having jersey retired by Los Angeles Clippers
Despite spending eight and a half seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin is unsure if his jersey should be the first one retired in franchise history. During his appearance on the Run It Back podcast, the six-time All-Star stated:
It’s obviously a huge honor. I wouldn’t turn that down, but in my mind, I don’t know that I do necessarily deserve it. I haven’t had any conversations about it. Unfortunately, we ultimately didn’t truly accomplish what we wanted.
It’s not something that I would say that I’m expecting. If it happens, that’s awesome. It’s a huge honor and I’d greatly appreciate it, but yeah, we’ll see.
Griffin had a less than ideal departure from the organization. Just over six months after signing a five-year, $173 million contract extension – which followed an elaborate free agent pitch that included a fake jersey retirement ceremony – he was traded to the Detroit Pistons. He ranks second in franchise history in points, third in rebounds, fifth in assists and sixth in steals.
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