Blake Griffin

Pat Bev has a more Hall of Fame-worthy career than I do

I actually do not disagree with that at all. I you look at the scope of work... just the way he took players under his wing... I respect his opinion. I actually, I think I agree with him. I think he probably gets the nod over myself.

The Thunder will still win the NBA Finals despite being down 2-1

I'm gonna go Oklahoma City still. I'm gonna stick with my original prediction. I'm not gonna change after a two-one lead. I'm gonna say Oklahoma City. They, they, they, they gotta win game four and it's a three game series and two of 'em are home for them.

I do not want a championship ring from the 2024 Boston Celtics

I greatly appreciate that sentiment, but I am truly so happy for those guys and you know, they deserved it. And again, did your part though... but I don't want the ring. I think that that equals no ring.

Kyrie Irving is the most talented basketball player in the NBA

I think he's the most talented basketball player in the NBA, maybe still. It's a weird thing to say because there's so many talented guys, but the things he does at his stature... he probably has like three of the top five things craziest things I've seen in practice of all time.

Joe Mazzulla's authenticity is why he will be a great coach for a long time

I think that's one of the most important things about head coaches is the authenticity. Like guys can sniff through it immediately... that's just who he's, so I think that's why he's, he's gonna be a great coach for a long time.

The Boston Celtics are heavy favorites to win the 2024 NBA championship

I think yeah, they're my favorites... I don't wanna put bad juju on 'em, but Yeah, they're heavy favorites in my mind.

Winning 'Blake of the Year' carries a performance curse for professional athletes

Everything sort of went downhill after last year's Blake of the Year. I had a rough year fellas, and I think it started with those ping pong balls. Now I can't even look at a ping pong ball without thinking of the devastating loss... This kind of begs the question: is there a Blake of the Year curse?

I prefer the easy way out when it comes to winning championships

I prefer the easy way out. Kinda my thing. I don't know this, and there's a good parody in the Blake via context... I didn't really accomplish much [this year], but here we are.

I considered Boston, Golden State, and Portland before signing with the Nets

I will tell you some of the teams... I really liked Boston. I really liked Golden State. I really liked Portland. There was a few other teams... but I had a tough decision. But ultimately, I had to do what was best for me and I think my ability to get a dunk.

Any move I make is by definition a 'Blake move' because I am a Blake

I seem to subscribe to the thought that any move I do is a Blake move because I am a Blake and I'm not sure that you guys can quite speak to that because you've never been a Blake.

NBA players will be mostly fine and ready once the playoffs start in Orlando

I feel like once they get to the actual playoffs, like I think guys will be fine. The only thing I'm really worried about is like injuries. But I think they put enough time in to allow guys to be prepared as possible. But, yeah, there will be some rust, but I don't think it will be too bad.

The 2020 NBA Champion will always have an asterisk due to the unique nature of the year

I think it's always going to have an asterisk just because of the year. I don't know that it takes anything else away from winning a championship but like just the year is just so insane... it's just completely different.

The NBA season should start on Christmas Day to avoid competing with football

I do think that we should we should push our start date back just because we're having we're competing against college football and nfl football just so big. I feel like the casual fan of sports doesn't really care about basketball until christmas anyway.

The Saints should sign Colin Kaepernick following the Drew Brees controversy

I think the least that Roger Goodell and Drew Brees could do is make the Saints sign Colin Kaepernick. That's a spicy take. I like it.

Winning Blake of the Year is like winning a low Division II championship

True story... I was on a flight when the Blake of the Year came out, and when I landed in Atlanta, you would have thought I had just literally won like a low Division II championship.

The 'Lob City' era Clippers deserve credit for changing the franchise's culture and putting them on a winning path

I agree. I think that we were part of that changing that culture a little bit... before I got drafted there people were telling me like do not go there they'll ruin your career... we started making the playoffs five consecutive years... I think we were a part of putting that franchise at least on the path.

I don't think Chris Paul will stay in Oklahoma City because they aren't contenders

I just can't see [Chris Paul] really like – Thunder's not really in a position to be like a playoff team or at least contend so I don't know if I see him staying there. At this point in his career I'm sure like the ring is the main objective.

I attempted to recruit Jeff Green to the Pistons in 2019 free agency but he signed with the Jazz 30 minutes later

I did a few calls, a few texts... his name rhymes with Schmeth Breen [Jeff Green]... I texted him, and literally, I think like 30 minutes later, it was like, Jeff Green has signed with Utah Jazz. I was like, all right.

NBA parity is in a great place because there is no clear favorite this year

I actually think it's great for basketball. I mean, the parity in basketball now is... I don't think you can really go into the season this year being like this team is going to win and the odds are stacked. It's going to be like good for basketball.

Golden State would have won the championship if they were healthy

I think Golden State would have won this year [2019] if they were healthy. Like no question.

It's very lame when NBA players get upset about their 2K ratings

Very [lame], yeah. Because it has no control over how you actually are as a player.

I'd like to thank my family for believing in me while winning 'Blake of the Year' despite the haters.

First off, I'd like to thank my family for believing me this whole time. Obviously, there's been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of naysayers, a lot of haters, but somehow we made it here. I don't know, man. I'm at a loss for words.

The Milwaukee Bucks were lucky to play the Pistons in the first round

Milwaukee's lucky. We played him four times in the regular season, lost all four. But, like, I guarantee you if we play a ninth [game].

Many NBA players are insecure because of the constant criticism on social media

I feel like a lot of guys are very insecure. And that's what social media kind of does a little bit. You always see bad, I mean, you see good things, but you see a lot of bad things... being open to that much criticism on a day-in and day-out basis can kind of fuck with your mind.

Detroit sports fans are better than L.A. fans because they are more 'locked in'

I actually really do like the sports fans [in Detroit]. There's good sports fans in L.A., but there's so much stuff going on that people don't really care that much. So Detroit, when you're rolling, it feels like everywhere you go, people know what's going on. They know whether you lost last night. I love fans that actually know what's going on.

Steve Ballmer's attempt to shake my hand before our game was a PR stunt and I didn't like it

I saw [Steve Ballmer], but I'm just like, I'm already done... He wanted [the handshake] for cameras. Absolutely cool. And yeah, I just didn't like it.

If I were Zion Williamson, I would play again for Duke this season

Yeah, I would play. At the end of the day, you've got to play basketball. I totally get it. If he wanted to sit out, I wouldn't be like, 'oh, that's BS.' If he wants to sit out, cool, but I personally would play.

The NBA's one-and-done rule should be abolished

[The one-and-done rule] should go away. A hundred percent.

No one wants to face the Pistons in the playoffs when we are hot

I think, yeah, teams at this point, if we keep this momentum up, I think you never really want to see the team that's hot [the Pistons].

LeBron James has the prototypical NBA body, not a super jacked one

LeBron's a big, strong guy, but he's not like... I feel like people think he's just jacked from head to toe, and I feel like he's got big shoulders. He's got the prototypical NBA body, like a smaller chest, skinny waist, and big arms.

Baker Mayfield is a great competitor and will be successful with the Browns

No, [Baker Mayfield] is going to be great. He's, you know what, he's just got this thing about him that... Baker, he's just like a competitor, man. Like, I was happy to see him go number one. If anybody can, like, move forward with the Browns [it's him].

Brad Stevens is a great coach who has no business being up on the 76ers without Kyrie Irving

You see Brad Stevens. That's a great coach... Not that those [Celtics] guys aren't good, but do they have any business being up 1-0 in the second round without Kyrie? Gordon Hayward, all those guys. The biggest thing for me... is the coach's adjustments game to game.

Being an NBA referee is an extremely difficult job

It's a very hard job, and they do their best. And one time I tried to ref one of my kids' camp games, and it was really hard, so I understand what they're going through.

The tunnel scuffle with the Rockets was just locker room talk and boys being boys

I can't imagine what everybody back in town was thinking when they heard that is what was happening... Continuity error. No, you're right. It was just a boys will be boys situation... Locker room talk. Yeah, exactly.

Oklahoma will beat Ohio State 28-21

I'm going to say 28-21 Oklahoma [over Ohio State]. ... It's going to suck, but I got to be confident, you know. You got to support your squad.

Madison Square Garden is the best place to play in the NBA

My number one pick, my favorite city always to visit is New York. The Garden is one of the most fun places to play. Just the energy, even when they're not as good or even if they have more hype. It's always a good crowd, great city.

Phoenix is a sleeper NBA city with huge potential

Number two, kind of a sleeper city for me, is Phoenix. Young. It's a good time. Great weather always. I like to get in there a little early. Just take my claim, put them on the Mount Rushmore, and then when they do blow up, it's like, hey, I was here from the beginning.

Toronto is a premier NBA city because it is culturally diverse and a great tax city to play in

Number three, I'm going Toronto. North of the border. Toronto's great, culturally diverse country. Solid fans, great tax city to play in. Also Drake, you could be friends with Drake.

Boston is a top-four NBA city to visit and play in

I'll tell you, I went with Boston as number four. Great call. I think definitely half of me [loves it]. I mean, half of me loves it. The other half, it's hit and miss. It depends on who I run into.

I would have beaten the Jazz if I hadn't injured my foot

Second, I probably was lashing out because it was probably right... I'm just assuming it was right after a Bulls loss. [Big Cat] Third... You were probably gambling on some of the games. [Big Cat] Because you guys were going to win that series against the Jazz if you hadn't stubbed your toe like you did. [Big Cat] I stubbed my foot.

Kawhi Leonard is my favorite player to watch in the playoffs

Favorite player in the playoffs? To watch, like, Kawhi, probably.

The San Antonio Spurs are a tougher matchup for the Warriors than the Houston Rockets

I can't not put my money on the Spurs. They're just like that team that always finds a way to get wins. Not saying they're going to win, but to get a win for sure, I think I'd have to go Spurs.

The 2008 Celtics are right to be upset with Ray Allen

I mean, it is a good point. I mean, guys that you've been with for a long time or that you've won with or lost with or struggled with and gone through those ups and downs, I mean, I think it is a good point to keep that communication and not just say, okay, well, I'm on a different team now, so I'm done.

The Cavaliers only won the 2016 NBA Finals because of Draymond Green's suspension and Andrew Bogut's injury

I really don't think Cleveland wins if Draymond doesn't get suspended and Bogut doesn't get hurt. So sometimes you've got to have, like, a little luck in the playoffs. Not to say that Cleveland didn't deserve to win. I think they did... But, I mean, it's just – you can't really decide, like, who's going to win the finals until you actually get to that point.

The Washington Wizards are a tougher matchup for the Cavaliers than the Boston Celtics

If you were on the Cavs, which team would you less like to face... I'd say probably Wizards. John Wall is so tough in transition. Isaiah is great, but John Wall is just so tough in transition.

Lonzo Ball will have a target on his back in the NBA because of LeVar Ball

Anybody that gets hyped up that much, if you're the number one pick or your top pick that's doing a lot of talking, you're going to have a little bit of a target on your back for sure... there's like that extra unneeded motivation that other guys will have now.

NBA players are just as tough as hockey players

I think it's more so that people try to go at NBA players like we're soft. Well, we're just as tough. Just as tough as hockey players.

NBA players don't start playing real defense until March

Oh, playing defense? Oof, gosh, what, March? I think when the tournament starts and then everybody's like, wow, they play so hard, that's when we're like, okay, now we've got to step it up.

I love playing in Los Angeles and have not thought about free agency yet

I haven't even thought about it [hometown homecoming]. There's so much basketball left to play. And my main focus is this season. And my main focus is this team because I've loved my time here [in L.A.]. And this is the best.

Paul Pierce was just being honest when he criticized Kevin Durant

It's not like Paul's just out there talking about Kevin Durant. Like people are asking him questions and he's answering them honestly... you don't really go at Paul because, you know, he's just answering a question that he was asked.