HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – While listening to Blake Griffin reflect on his Rookie of the Year season just minutes after he was presented with the T-Mobile Rookie of the Year award weeks ago in Los Angeles, it became clear that the Clippers’ big man was interested in so much more.
He wants to be more than just a dunker, more than just a highlight staple and much more than just one of the freshest and best pitchmen in all of sports (you’ve seen his commercials, you know he’s hilarious).
Already an All-Star, Griffin could have eased up this summer and basked in a little of the glow of his maiden campaign in the league, one that saw him average 22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists en route to near universal acclaim as one of the brightest young stars in the professional sports world.
But instead he’s in the gym (check the video above), leading the Clippers’ young cast through workouts and trying to take the next step and become the true leader of an outfit in need of exactly that.
Griffin’s takeaway from his rookie season wasn’t that he’d arrived. Sure, he planted his flag with dominant stretches of play that we’ll admit were a bit of a surprise. We expected the excitement. We tuned in for the Clippers’ season opener, as did many others, to see if he would live up to the high-flying hype. And he did:
When we saw him at the Clippers’ practice facility during that ROY ceremony, though, it was while the playoffs were in full swing. It’s all Griffin could talk about, how having to watch the playoffs was eating away at him. That is what you want to hear from a young star on the rise. That’s the message his teammates and coaches need to hear from him. The fact that Griffin is backing up those words with his actions only confirms what we’ve suspected about him all along.
He wants more. He’s willing to work for it. And we’re all going to benefit from him taking that next step.
The Clippers have some serious ground to cover. Their 32-50 mark during Griffin’s rookie season was nowhere near playoff worthy in the Western Conference. But if their other youngsters — including recent Draft picks Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie — buy in, these Clippers could be a real factor in the near future.
That’s why we are buying Clippers’ stock right now, much like we’re doing with that Timberwolves’ stock that was discussed in this space yesterday and as we did two years ago with the Hang Time Grizzlies. As some of the older teams in the Western Conference begin to fade over the next few seasons, someone has to fill that void.
We tried to warn the world about those Grizzlies before they blew up on the big stage during the playoffs. We’re getting the same type of vibe from Griffin and the Clippers. Maybe not next season, but soon they’ll arrive, too. Very soon.
cant wait for them to outshine the lakers !
Griffin the next jordan.. not lebron.
wow what’s up with all that hype?? he’s not even there to call next Charles Barkley yet. (not hating, he’s good but not that good like what you just said)
He’ll probably take care of his body better than Barkley. However, I don’t know exactly what he’ll be. He doesn’t really have a killer instinct yet, but as long as he doesn’t frustrated he could become one of the best.
Griffin has tremendous atleticism, but the real next step for him, apart from leadership, is the mental aspect.
I mean, he has to play smart, with intelligence. The difference between a good player and a great one, is the intelligence that you put in your game. (and griffin now is a good player, I mean for his team, not a great one).
And LeBron is the same kind of player, different position of course, but same stage. He’s a good player, but to win the title he needs to play smarter…
me n u both bro!
Outshine the Lakers? Yeah in your dreams.
why dont laker fans want to admit that they are now a boring team
I’m a Laker and yes we really are boring and slow team at the moment. Players still want to play for us though so Howard or CP3 may be in Purple and Gold soon…i hope.
Was I dreaming in 2006 when the Clips advanced to the 2nd round and the Lakes stayed behind?
dude Tribinski your going too far.He’s good but not that good.He’s good but to say that the Clippers will outshine the Lakers that will never happen, too much dude too much.I just hope he gets to the playoffs.
lebron would get a ring if he went to the clippers
hahahahaha nice try boy!! LBJ has already a contender team…he doesn’t need to move to LA….
2006 Playoffs…Clippers beat the nuggets in the first round, while the Lakers got first rounded by the Suns. Looks like they have already outshined them once, and with the Kobe’s clock ticking, I’d say it’s possible that it will happen again. Get over yourselves Lakers Fans!!!
i remember it well
Thats hilarious, Lakers have been to the Finals 7 out of the last 12. Clippers made it in and out of the first round once. Dont hold your breATH. Griffin is a beast. He probably will be a Laker win he gets a ring
lump master is right
lebron would win a ring if he went to the clippers
Its the Clippers..enough said..
yeah one of the most exciting teams in the league, and they dont have any lazy players
Yeh could you take Lamar back please?
getting ready for lockout? lol
Griffin’s desire to set an example and be a vocal leader to such a youthful team is very impressive. It shows someone who is willing to make others great alongside himself which could bode well for him and the Clippers and result in him remaining their franchise and not trying to become a triple threat on another team like those before him. I credit that such a young mind is thinking about the big picture and not individual accolades. Much love to you Sekou Smith from the UK, keep those podcasts coming, they keep me alive at work.
I’m a huge Clipper fan, an I’m not just saying this because I am a fan of the team, but the future does look bright. I mean look, we have Mo Williams, a solid veteran, Eric Gordon, a great up and coming all-star, our weakest position, SF, we have Aminu, very athletic and has a lot of potential, Blake Griffin, a double-double machine and a morale boost, and a duo of Chris Kaman, a former all-star who has a solid jumpshot and inside game, and DeAndre Jordan, a young gun who is oh-so strong and durable. We have the potential, and I’m not saying this year that the Clippers are going all the way, but if you look at the team and the players, the next few years look good.
As a honest Laker fan im actually happy for the Clippers. I think that their curse has ended finally! Blake Griffin is a solid young star and for him to put up such numbers for his rookie season is astonishing. As far as the Clipps out-shinning the Lakers well not yet but very very soon they will.
Im hearing too much talk about the Clippers wanting Howard and Im hoping not because Howard & Griffin CANNOT co-exist at all. Instead this young team should trade for CP3! They have all the pieces to trade him for.
I say trade:
1.Kaman
2.Mo Williams
3.Bledsoe(as Hornets would want a young in return)
4.The draft right Timberwolves owe to Clipps first round 2012 pick
5.Clippers first rounder(which wont be that high)
In return Clippers get CP3, Okafor & Ariza
That way the Clippers get rid off 2 bad contracts in Mo Williams & Kaman and still keep their current youngs Al-Farouq & DeAndre.
And while their at it why not trade Eric Gordon(injury prone & undersized) for Igudala and bring him to his LA based home!
Now they’d have a contending team with a line up off CP3 at PG, Igudala(Defensive player who doesnt require the ball to be effective) at the SG, Trevor Ariza(Good defender/perimeter shooter) at SF, Blake Griffin at PF and DeAndre Jordan(Athletic/rebounding/Defensive freak) at the Center!
Then You would have Randy Foy, Aminu Al-farouq and Emeka Okafor off the bench as well as the new rookies.
This type off trade is do-able EASY! and this would allow the Clippers to contend right away with an extremely young team.
It would also allow CP3 to resign and stay after 1 season and seeing how humble he is he’d know it would be a better destination than the one in NY. LA weather would also help make his mind
For those off you wondering how it would work from a moneys stand point, let me just say Igudala & Okafor have big contracts but they’d end before Blake Griffin resigns!
And again for those off you Clipper fans thinking why Igudala for Eric Gordon then thats plain and simple. Gordon is 6’2 listed as 6’3 which is undersized for his position, plus Gordon is the type off player that requires the ball more to be effective i.e Monta Ellis & Ben Gordon. Its no value to a team that will build around Blake Griffin and CP3 whose only at age 25 and at his prime. Igi would be a better fit as he wont need much off the ball and also is a far far far better defender(DEFENSE WINS CHIPS)
THERE YOU GO!
you are terrible. those trades would never work and you must not have any common sense. people like you shouldn’t be allowed to comment on these because you know nothing about basketball or the NBA.
No way the Hornets would make that horrible trade.
hes not a basketball player… hes a dunker, he needs to learn to be a basketball player, not some dude whos just gonna jump over some 1 and slam it home, u dont win like that
You calling 22 ppg and 12 rpg not impressive? I beg to differ.
yea you’re nuts. everyone knew who he was comming in and he still put himself in position to put up those dunks EVERY night. its not like its some wing player that cant develop a jumpshot. hes working on it, but he spends most of his time around the rim nothing wrong with being a dunker. you use whatever advantage you have in the league. Amare was the same thing when he came in the league and was whoopin people but developed a jumpshot based on need out of injury. Clearly blake undestands, hes not gonna wait till then, hes working on his game now
Come on!!!! Griffin is a rookie, the game will come…
Watch out for the Sacramento Kings!!
LMAO
Sad but Clippers will always come second to the Lakers. I see Blake leaving to play somewhere when his Rookie contract ends.
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Western Conference Next Season:1.Thunder 2.Mavs 3.Lakers 4.Memphis 5.Portland 6.Spurs 7.Nuggets 8.Clippers
and the clippers give the thunder a tough time. Finals: Heat vs. Thunder, heat win. But i want NYK to win. GO KNICKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that the only comment in this entire blog that made any sense was the one that said that Griffin came into the league practically yelling from the rooftops that he was going to get inside and dunk in peoples faces, and, 214 dunks later, he hadn’t actually changed his game plan all that much from his initial intent. I think that JaVale McGee got the best of him last season. Griffin had no answer for McGee whatsoever. Otherwise… well, the next best player that could have potentially offered any real resistance to the way he played last year was actually on his team. DeAndre Jordan has a very similar game to Griffin, and is taller and longer. While not having as much viciousness in his driving play, he is the kind of player that Griffin has trouble dealing with. Having both of them on the same team is awesome, and I think that next year, if they do get to pick up another player with good court vision and an aggressive stance, they can make serious headway into the win column. Good luck Clippers!
Clippers gave up the eventual #1 draft pick to Cleveland for Mo Williams. Proof that the Clippers curse is still going strong.
The Clippers should get Tracy McGrady!
If Blake stays healthy, he will become an all-time great player.
214 – Am I Real