Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin recently made an appearance on The Vertical Podcast with J.J. Redick, discussing a wide range of subjects that included his work ethic, motivation to succeed growing up, and his love for comedy.
Griffin was sidelined much of last year due to a partially torn left quadriceps. He also missed a large chunk of games after punching equipment manager Matias Testi, breaking his hand in the process. In the end, the 2016-’17 campaign didn’t go as Griffin planned, and he winded up playing only 35 games with the Clippers.
Griffin has spent most of the offseason training, preparing himself mentally and physically for the preseason, set to begin in just one month.
“I took a week off after I had surgery and then started rehab a week after that, and I’ve been going all the way through,” said Griffin (via Rowan Kavner of Clippers.com).
Still, like all NBA players, Griffin did wind up finding some time to himself.
“I actually just got back from vacation, so I took a week off there, so basically two weeks (off) this whole summer”, Griffin continued. “I kind of had in my mind, I’m just going to go all the way through. In my mind, I didn’t deserve a summer break.”
Blake Griffin is fully aware of his failed campaign with the Clippers last season, a team that came together and eliminated the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs the year before. Griffin believes he wasn’t deserving of a long summer break, the kind of break most NBA players embark on after the tough, up-and-down season ends.
Griffin is coming off a season in which he averaged 21.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and shot 50% per game in 35 appearances. Should he return to the starting lineup and stay healthy this season, the Clippers have a shot at being the Golden State Warriors’ biggest threat out West.
