Clippers' Griffin: 'I didn't deserve a summer break'
Blake Griffin won't let himself off the hook for how his 2015-16 NBA campaign turned out.
The 27-year-old forward was off the hardwood more often than not for the Los Angeles Clippers, suiting up for just 35 appearances as a result of a partially torn left quadriceps, as well as a right hand injury which he sustained by punching the team's former equipment manager.
Considering how much time he was away from the game, it's no wonder Griffin elected to spend most of his offseason training for opening night and beyond as he continues to seek redemption for his actions.
"I took a week off after I had surgery and then started rehab a week after that, and I’ve been going all the way through," Griffin said during a recent appearance on teammate J.J. Redick's Vertical podcast. "I actually just got back from vacation, so I took a week off there, so basically two weeks (off) this whole summer. I kind of had in my mind, I’m just going to go all the way through. In my mind, I didn’t deserve a summer break."
Griffin was suspended four games and fined by Clippers management for punching Matias Testl, his close friend.
The suspension didn't go into effect until he was medically cleared to return.
Los Angeles found a great deal of success without Griffin in the lineup, though, going 32-15 when he wasn't active. The team still managed to win 53 games, but were ultimately sent packing by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round.
- with h/t to Clippers.com's Rowan Kavner