Blake Griffin

But I also wasn't able to play at the level that I was used to playing at or that I wanted to play at for the last two, three years of my career. So like, how would you- How did you deal with that?

But I also wasn't able to play at the level that I was used to playing at or that I wanted to play at for the last two, three years of my career. So like, how would you- How did you deal with that?

No, I think you just like I mean, I think maybe maybe one of my greatest strengths as a player or maybe a person is self-awareness. Like I knew that I wasn't like I knew that I could be out there, but like especially Boston, my last year is like I sit on the bench at the end of games. It's like I'm looking at like two perennial all stars and like like we had a great team.

No, I think you just like I mean, I think maybe maybe one of my greatest strengths as a player or maybe a person is self-awareness. Like I knew that I wasn't like I knew that I could be out there, but like especially Boston, my last year is like I sit on the bench at the end of games. It's like I'm looking at like two perennial all stars and like like we had a great team.

I wasn't like, I should be out there. Yeah. Do I think I could help? Yes. But set a pick here or there. I'll hustle.

I wasn't like, I should be out there. Yeah. Do I think I could help? Yes. But set a pick here or there. I'll hustle.

Like really helpful stuff. Like heady plays. Yes, the intangibles. So like sitting on the bench like that, it wasn't really like a dark or it wasn't like a super sad. At times maybe frustrating. But I just knew that I wasn't at that same level. So my role became different. I became like a locker room guy. I tried to be a mentor to young guys. I tried to have conversations with coaches.

Like really helpful stuff. Like heady plays. Yes, the intangibles. So like sitting on the bench like that, it wasn't really like a dark or it wasn't like a super sad. At times maybe frustrating. But I just knew that I wasn't at that same level. So my role became different. I became like a locker room guy. I tried to be a mentor to young guys. I tried to have conversations with coaches.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, and also some days, when you got older, some days I felt great. And I could. But it was like that recovery was so slow, right? Where it was like you felt good one out of every five days. Where when I first started playing, it was every day. Every second, every hour, every minute I felt great. And then you don't feel as good as often.

Yeah, and also some days, when you got older, some days I felt great. And I could. But it was like that recovery was so slow, right? Where it was like you felt good one out of every five days. Where when I first started playing, it was every day. Every second, every hour, every minute I felt great. And then you don't feel as good as often.

and I just kind of switched into this mode of like, all right, then I'm just gonna reinvent myself. I sort of did that throughout my career. I started shooting more, I started shooting threes, and then I became a hustle guy. I became a locker room guy, a mentor, and it was all fun, and I enjoyed all of it, all the different facets of it. Of course, do I want to go play 38 minutes?

and I just kind of switched into this mode of like, all right, then I'm just gonna reinvent myself. I sort of did that throughout my career. I started shooting more, I started shooting threes, and then I became a hustle guy. I became a locker room guy, a mentor, and it was all fun, and I enjoyed all of it, all the different facets of it. Of course, do I want to go play 38 minutes?

Yeah, but I knew in my last year, if I played 38 minutes, there's a chance you don't see me for a couple days. I might be stuck in bed.

Yeah, but I knew in my last year, if I played 38 minutes, there's a chance you don't see me for a couple days. I might be stuck in bed.

It's sort of all-encompassing. I wish I knew so much more. It is one of those things where even if you tell guys – Like I had some guys, I had some older guys really pass down some great wisdom. I had some not so wise older guys also pass down some not so.

It's sort of all-encompassing. I wish I knew so much more. It is one of those things where even if you tell guys – Like I had some guys, I had some older guys really pass down some great wisdom. I had some not so wise older guys also pass down some not so.

Just like I had a teammate one time tell me like, hey, you know, you go on the road, you know, you have a girl come over, whatever it is, you know, just make sure you like, you know, you either buy him a handbag or give him some cash. I'm like that. Well, that that doesn't seem doesn't seem a great relationship. Actually seems counterintuitive. Yeah. I don't think that's, I remember that.

Just like I had a teammate one time tell me like, hey, you know, you go on the road, you know, you have a girl come over, whatever it is, you know, just make sure you like, you know, you either buy him a handbag or give him some cash. I'm like that. Well, that that doesn't seem doesn't seem a great relationship. Actually seems counterintuitive. Yeah. I don't think that's, I remember that.