To Griffin, No. 1 draft status is no given
While OU star is likely heading to Clippers, others start draft-camp grid
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CHICAGO - Blake Griffin showed up in an orange, black and white sweatsuit. For the record, he insisted there was no Clippers jersey underneath it.
In fact, the All-American forward from Oklahoma still wasn’t quite ready to sign a mortgage in Los Angeles or declare himself the NBA’s No. 1 pick. He’ll wait for commissioner David Stern to make that announcement on June 25, even if the Clippers indicated it’s really not necessary.
“I’m planning it as if I don’t know right now, which I don’t,” said Griffin, who was in Chicago on Thursday for the NBA draft combine. “I’m not going to guarantee anything. I’m going through it just like everybody else is.”
Well, not exactly.
While some players are facing a long line of workouts and interviews the next few weeks, Griffin said he’s only scheduled to visit the Clippers next week. And he wasn’t sure he would meet with any teams while in Chicago.
Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn, however, was facing six hours of interviews Thursday. Considering he played in a six-overtime game in the Big East tournament, and knows a thing or two about exhaustion, but in his mind there’s no doubt. This is more grueling.
“Definitely,” he said. “You’ve got to talk the whole time, you’ve got to sit up right, you’ve got to make a good impression. So that’s way more tiring. Playing basketball, that’s the easy part.”
For players trying to solidify draft spots, this is a critical time.
“I think I’m a good fit for any team,” said Arizona’s Jordan Hill, who figures to be one of the top picks after forgoing his senior year. “Teams need a hard worker. I’m definitely a hard worker.”
The Clippers apparently believe Griffin is the right fit for them.
They seemed to wipe out whatever mystery there was surrounding the top pick last week when assistant general manager Neil Olshey and coach Mike Dunleavy told reporters they were taking him. Even so, Griffin isn’t completely convinced.
Sure, the team placed photos of Griffin on the team’s Web site after winning the lottery. And on Thursday there was still one showing president Andy Roeser with his suit jacket held open and what looked like a jersey with the number 23 — Griffin’s number in college — embroidered inside. All evidence seems to be pointing toward the Clippers taking him rather than trading the pick or going with someone else.
Even so, he’s maintaining a sliver of doubt.
“Nothing’s set in stone,” Griffin said. “Anything can happen, so I’m not going to start buying a house and all that in L.A.”
Told of Dunleavy’s comment, Griffin said, “I believe him. If he’s possibly my coach, I believe him. Anything can happen is the way I’m looking at it.”
If they go with Griffin, the Clippers can only hope he turns out better than their previous No. 1, Michael Olowokandi in 1998. He went on to average 8.3 points in his career and is out of the NBA — one of many misfires by a downtrodden franchise that has just four playoff appearances. Los Angeles also took Danny Manning with the top pick in 1988.
It’s easy to see why the Clippers would want Griffin, considering he led the nation with 30 double-doubles and 14.4 rebounds per game and averaged a Big 12-leading 22.7 points. He was even better in the NCAA tournament, averaging 28.5 points and 15 rebounds while leading the Sooners to the regional finals, where they fell to eventual champion North Carolina.
The John R. Wooden Award winner as college basketball’s top player, he’s likely headed to a team that went 19-63 and is stuck in the shadow of the glitzy, glamorous Lakers. While it’s unlikely Jack Nicholson would give up his courtside seat, Griffin would love to lure a few stars and maybe the spotlight that’s clearly centered on Kobe Bryant and his crew if he winds up in Los Angeles.
“That’s a tough person to go up against,” Griffin said.
Attracting the celebrities “would be great,” he said. “That’s what we’re working for — celebrity attendance. But hopefully, if I am there, we can start (winning).”
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