Blake Griffin officially made his debut with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night and did something he hadn’t done since 2019.
Griffin threw a dunk.
Now, on the surface, this looks ridiculous. After all, the six-time All-Star is a former winner of the Slam Dunk Contest.
But with the COVID-19 pandemic shortening last season, and the Detroit Pistons not being invited into the NBA bubble, Griffin’s last dunk actually came on December 12, 2019.
And although he didn’t see much of the court on Sunday night in the Nets’ 113-106 win against the Washington Wizards – he played just 15 minutes – Griffin finally got his dunk a few seconds after the fourth period.
“I knew that once it happened, I know it would be one thing,” said Griffin of the dunk, via ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “It was good to get that out of the way and move on.”
Blake Griffin content to enter Brooklyn
Griffin finished with just two points and two rebounds, shooting 1 of 2 from the field. The 32-year-old, who has spent the past three seasons with the Pistons, agreed to a purchase with Detroit earlier this month and quickly signed with the Nets.
As it has been more than a month since he actually played a game, however, Griffin knew he would not see much action on Sunday night.
“No one stays put for a month and then comes back and plays immediately,” said Griffin, via ESPN. “So, I just want to be smart and listen to people who know what they’re talking about and make sure to give me the best opportunity to get in and contribute and be healthy for the playoffs and beyond.”
With the Nets in the position they are – just a game away from first place at the Eastern Conference – Griffin knows there is no need to rush into Brooklyn.
He seems, at least for now, more than content to take his time.
“I think I can play more than 15 [minutes] for sure, “said Griffin, via Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. “I think we are just being very smart, you know, when there is no need to play 30 minutes right away.”
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