Way past his prime, it was unknown what exactly Blake Griffin could offer the Boston Celtics when he signed with the organization in September.
While the longtime NBA veteran is a deep bench option and sometimes doesn’t even see the court at this point in his career, the 33-year-old has become a valuable piece in the Celtics locker room
Many members of the Celtics noted the special chemistry the team has and interim head coach Joe Mazzulla emphasized that Griffin is a big reason for that.
“I’ve said it a couple times, and I even told Mike Muscala when he first got here was cherish this locker room because it’s one of the strongest and maybe the most special one you’ll be in,” Mazzulla told reporters following the Celtics’ 127-109 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, per NBC Sports Boston. “I think Blake is a huge cornerstone of that just because of the career he has had and where he’s at now and the humility he brings to just coming in every single day.
“Whether it’s playing with the younger guys or starting for us, his attitude and his focus on what’s most important doesn’t change. He has the utmost respect of everybody in the locker room.”
With Robert Williams III sidelined due to left ankle soreness Wednesday, there was more playing time for Griffin, who earned his 12th start of the campaign.
Griffin played 29 minutes — his second-highest total of the season — and produced nine points and five rebounds while adding one steal and one block. But Griffin’s standout singular play from the night never made its way into the box score.
With the Celtics in full control with five minutes left in regulation, Griffin went into a full-extension dive trying to save a loose ball in the corner of the court. He crashed into the Pistons’ bench area as the ball carried out of bounds, and as he was helped up by his teammates, the crowd at TD Garden gave him a standing ovation.
The tenacious effort from Griffin at that moment captured perfectly what he has brought to the Celtics this season as making a hustle play with the game already decided wasn’t beneath the 2009 No. 1 overall pick.
“It shows his humility I think more than anything,” Malcolm Brogdon told reporters as seen on NBC Sports Boston postgame coverage. “He’s been a perennial All-Star, All-NBA guy. He’s still making good plays, ready to play coming off the bench. Sometimes he doesn’t play, sometimes he’s starting. His professionalism, his humility is really off the charts.”
