Blake Griffin picked Brooklyn Nets to ‘fight’ for NBA title, ready to play needed role

Blake Griffin has picked the Brooklyn Nets to “fight” for an NBA championship and says he will play the role necessary to help them win.

“My main focus now was to play and fight for a championship,” he said on a Zoom call Wednesday after his first day of training with his new team.

“So my state of mind doesn’t change, I always try to win every time I step on the pitch. But play those meaningful minutes, play with these guys and really contribute in any way you can.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Nets used one of their minimum contract slots for veterans to sign Griffin, 31, the No.1 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft in Oklahoma. ESPN reported that Griffin authorized the waivers on Sunday night after agreeing to buy back the remaining $ 56.5 million on his contract with Detroit on Friday.

Now he joins a Nets team with a “Big Three” from Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, although Durant remains out pending the results of a third scan on his hamstrings.

Griffin could start in Durant’s place or step off the bench and play a small five ball, although he is listed as absent for Thursday’s game with Boston due to “injury management.” Griffin said he was uninjured and ready to do whatever head coach Steve Nash asked him to do.

“I watched their last games and got to watch a lot of movies,” said Griffin, who averaged 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 20 games with the Pistons. “Just going out and playing with these guys makes it easy.

“I think now I have the skills to be able to adapt to different areas and I hope to be able to help guys. I’m not going to force anything. Coach Nash told me to play my game and not worry too much about it. Once we get there I think we’ll have a better idea so I’m happy to start the process. It has already started today with practice.

Griffin won’t be asked to take on the load as a first, second or third scoring option on the Nets, who also feature other capable scorers like Joe Harris. It can find itself wide open at times when other stars are on a double team.

“The ball finds the best players and for us it’s obviously KD, Kyrie and James and I’ve been playing basketball for a long time and I’ve played with guys like that before,” he said. “These guys make the game easier, so you play against them and fill those places.”

Griffin said he had to “carry” a greater load with a younger Pistons team while playing a “mentoring role” to younger players “and now it reminds me of playing with some of the Clipper teams where you. had so many veterans and so many experienced guys.

Nash knows Griffin’s current version isn’t the top-flight dunking machine the coach has played against in his own career, but believes Griffin can still help the Nets.

“He had a history of knee injuries,” Nash said. “He was a player who lived above the rim and so he adapted and became a guy who manages the ball very well, he passes very well, he makes lines. He has therefore adapted and changed his game, it is a tribute to the skill and intelligence he has as a basketball player.

“He adjusted and flourished and changed his game with the three point shooting, with the handling of the ball, with the creation of play, those types of skills that are very valuable in today’s game. hui but obviously a different look from the Blake we got used to early in his career.

Griffin believes there is enough time left before the playoffs to integrate with his new teammates and find his niche.

“I’m just excited to be on the pitch with them,” he said. “We have two months before the playoffs start and I think that’s a lot of time.”