Griffin's rehab going well, looking to 'be ready to go' for 2020-21

Six-time All-Star Blake Griffin's recovery from knee surgery is progressing well and he hopes to be ready when the Detroit Pistons' 2020-21 season tips off.

"As far as rehab goes, (I) feel great," he said Thursday, according to Pistons.com's Keith Langlois. "Only confirmed that I needed to take care of it to be able to get back to where I want to be. I’m looking to keep that same level of training and be ready to go, be fresh by the time the season rolls around - whenever that may be."

Griffin was held to just 18 appearances this season, and posted career lows in points (15.5) and rebounds (4.7) per game while struggling to stay healthy. He ultimately underwent arthroscopic debridement surgery on his left knee in early January with no initial timeline for his return.

Owners of one of the league's worst records at 20-46 (.303) when the NBA season went on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March, the Pistons' 2019-20 campaign is now over. Only the top 22 teams will continue playing when the season resumes at a single site in Orlando in late July.

With the 2019-20 playoffs likely stretching into September and October, the 2020-21 season is expected to start in early December - nearly a full year after Griffin's most recent appearance in an NBA game.

"Obviously longer than I wanted to sit, but that being said, you try to take advantage and use every bit of it and be smart about it at the same time," Griffin said. "Make sure I’m not hurting myself and doing anything to put myself at a disadvantage given all this time."