The six-time All-Star has been ‘begging’ the Celtics to join the squad again.
Boston Celtics guards Derrick White and Payton Pritchard said the franchise has been “begging” free-agent big man Blake Griffin to return to the team during a recent interview on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” podcast.
In 41 regular-season games with the Celtics last season, the six-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year averaged career lows in points (4.1), rebounds (3.8), assists (1.5), and minutes per game (13.9).
Only one of the team’s twenty postseason games saw Griffin on the court. He appeared in Game 5 of the team’s first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, playing for six minutes.
Nevertheless, Pritchard and White were very complimentary of the previous first overall pick.
We’ve pleaded with him to. The former responded, “We’ve been pleading with him, about Griffin perhaps playing in the NBA this year.
White continued, “I believe the entire team has been pleading with him to return to Boston.”
The Los Angeles Clippers’ veteran high-flying dunker may not have a spot in the Celtics’ roster, which is probably the deepest in the league.
Neemias Queta, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Kristaps Porzingis make up Boston’s current frontcourt. In comparison, Kornet and Queta play 14.8 and 12.3 minutes per game, respectively, while Porzingis and Horford average 29.6 and 27.1 minutes per game.
Jayson Tatum, the superstar forward, also often lines up at the four.
However, it doesn’t appear that Pritchard will give up on trying to sign Griffin as a returner.
“I actually texted him like a week or two ago, kind of like, jokingly, like, ‘Coming back for one last ride?'” the man said, noting that he and the veteran have regular conversations.
In October, rumors circulated that Griffin was thinking about retiring.
The former Oklahoma standout later acknowledged that he and Pritchard communicate on a regular basis on Monday’s podcast episode.
We chat a lot, according to Griffin. “Guys, I’m just having fun with life right now.”
