Blake Griffin cost Brooklyn Nets To ‘Contend’ for NBA title, willing to play whatever role is required

Blake Griffin selected the Brooklyn Nets to “contend” for the NBA tournament and says he will play whatever role is needed to help them win.

“My main focus now was to play and compete for a tournament,” he said Wednesday on Zoom’s call after his first day of practice with his new team.

“So don’t change my mindset, I always try to win every time I step on the court. But playing those meaningful moments, playing with those people and making a big contribution in any way possible. ”

Adrian Wojnarowski told ESPN that the Nets used one of their lowest vintage contract slots to sign the 31-year-old Griffin, a No. 1 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma. ESPN said Griffin canceled it Sunday night after agreeing to a purchase of the remaining $ 56.5 million on his contract with Detroit on Friday.

He now joins the Nets team which includes the “Big Three” of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, although Durant stays out waiting for the results of the third scan of the his hammer.

Griffin could start in Durant’s place or come off the bench and play a little ball, although he is listed out for Thursday’s game with Boston due to “injury management. Griffin said he is unharmed and is willing to do whatever is asked by head coach Steve Nash.

“I saw their last several games, and I had a chance to watch a lot of movies,” said Griffin, who scored an average of 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 20 games with the Pistons. “By getting out there and playing with those people, they make the game easy.

“I think now I have the skills to be able to position different areas and I hope I can help people. I’m not going to force anything. Coach Nash has told me to play my game and not worry too much about that. Once we get out there, I think we’ll get a better feel so I’m excited just to start the process. It has already started today with practice. ”

Griffin will not be asked to carry the load as the Nets’ first, second or third scoring option, which also features other potential scores like Joe Harris. It may be wide open at times when other stars come together.

“The ball is looking for the best players and for us it’s obviously KD, Kyrie and James and I’ve played basketball for a long time and I’ve played with boys like that before,” he said. e. “Those boys will make the game easier so you can play from them and fill in those spots. ”

Griffin said he had to “shoulder” a bigger load with the younger Pistons team while playing a “mentor role” for younger players “and now this kind of reminds me play with some of the Clipper teams where you had so many old guys and so many acquaintances. ”

Nash knows that the current version of Griffin is not the high-flying dunking machine the coach played against him during his own career, but he feels Griffin can help the Nets.

“He has a history of knee injuries,” Nash said. “He used to be a player who lived above the edge so he’s changed and a guy who handles the ball well, he passes very well, he makes three. So he has changed and changed his game, it is a tribute to his skill and experience as a basketball player.

“He has changed and prospered and changed his game with three-point shooting, ball handling, playing, those kinds of skills that are invaluable in today’s game. but obviously a different view from the Blake we were used to at the beginning of his career. ”

Griffin feels there is plenty of time before the postseason to join his new players and find his special place.

“I’m just excited to be in court with them,” he said. “We have two months before the playoffs start and I think that’s enough time. ”