During their appearance on Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take, Celtics players Derrick White and Payton Pritchard made it clear they have been hoping for a former NBA All-Star to return to Boston. Per the Celtics guards, they have been “begging” for Blake Griffin to sign with the team. And according to them, they are not the only ones doing so:
When pressed about why Blake Griffin isn’t suiting up with the team this season, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White acknowledged that the team’s roster has tried to get him back to Boston. “I don’t know. We begged him to,” Pritchard told PMT. “I think the whole team has been begging him to,’ White added.
The almost 35-year-old played one season with the Celtics last year. In 41 games, including 16 starts, Griffin averaged 4.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists over 13.9 minutes per game. All these stats were career lows for the former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2009.
Derrick White and Payton Pritchard say Celtics players have been begging Blake Griffin to come back to the roster.
Blake Griffin when asked about it: “We talk quite a bit, I’m just enjoying my life right now guys.”
(via @BrianTRobb, @PardonMyTake) pic.twitter.com/dU8CSl9TMV
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 26, 2024
Griffin is not the same guy he was during the “Lob City” Los Angeles Clippers days. That said, the organization seemed to enjoy having him on the roster. In the offseason, reports suggested the Celtics showed interest in bringing Griffin back. However, the idea got shot down quickly:
While Boston “would likely welcome a return” by Griffin for the 2023-24 season, “for now that appears unlikely” as he considers his options, according to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.
Regardless, Griffin made it clear he enjoyed his time in Boston:
“Boston is unbelievable,” he said. “Living in Boston, playing in Boston, was like one of the best experiences. Dude, the fans are incredible.”
The Celtics currently have one open roster spot remaining.
NBA Rumors: Celtics Players “Begging” Former All-Star to Return
Will Blake Griffin Return?
Although Griffin liked playing for the Celtics and views this current team as “heavy favorites” to win the championship this year, it still seems like a reunion is unlikely. According to Pritchard, he reached out to Griffin recently about possibly coming back to Boston:
“I texted him actually a week ago or two jokingly being like, ‘Coming back for one last ride?’ He says he’s enjoying his life,” Pritchard said. Show host Dan Katz then proceeded to call up Griffin during the appearance with Pritchard and White, deflecting when asked about a potential return later this season. “We talk quite a bit,” Griffin said. “I’m just enjoying my life right now guys.”
Derrick White and Payton Pritchard went on @PardonMyTake and said Blake Griffin was the best teammate and that they still talk to him all time.
In turn, Blake Griffin joined the episode via FT and confirmed he can still dunk but that he’s enjoying life right now not playing lol pic.twitter.com/0r7deS6pz3
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) February 26, 2024
Ultimately, it seems like the forward is enjoying his time away from basketball. A return to the NBA seems unlikely for Griffin at the moment.
The Last Word
Griffin was one of the more solid players for the Celtics last year. He played spotty minutes and provided an energy boost off the bench. The 2011 Rookie of the Year has not officially retired yet, and if he has the desire to return to the NBA, it sounds like the Boston Celtics are a possible destination for him.
