Derrick White And Payton Pritchard Reveal The Celtics Team Begged Blake Griffin To Return And He Refused

Katz went on to FaceTime Griffin while sitting with White and Prichard to directly ask the former No. 1 overall pick why he's not returning to the game despite being recruited by a championship favorite like the Celtics. 

Dan Katz: "Hey, these guys miss you. Why do you no longer play basketball? Is it because you can't dunk?

Blake Griffin: "Oh man, I wish I hadn't picked up. Yeah, we talk quite a bit. I am just enjoying life right now."

Griffin would be asked about the championship favorites this year and he cautiously named the Celtics, not wanting to put bad juju on them by calling them favorites. 

"They're my favorites. I don't want to put bad juju on them, but they're heavy favorites in my mind."

Griffin was on the Celtics last season but barely got a chance to play. He averaged 4.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists as a bit-part piece, but he left a huge impact in the locker room. 

It's unclear if Griffin could come in and contribute in a super limited role, but what's clear is that he has no interest in playing that role. We still have a few days before the playoff-eligibility deadline for signed players, so you never know what could happen.

The Celtics Have No More Excuses

The Boston Celtics are the closest thing to a superteam in the modern NBA after they went star-hunting over the summer. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were massive additions to the team, as the Celtics can run a starting five of All-Star caliber players with these two, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and White. As a result, the Celtics have been dominating the NBA this year.

They have a record of 45-12, already looking to have secured the No. 1 seed in the East. Their closest rivals are the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are 7.5 games behind. No Western team is in the running either, as No. 1 seed Minnesota is five games behind the Celtics in record. 

With people trying to claim Jayson Tatum as an MVP candidate, it's clear that the Celtics have no choice but to deliver a title this season. They've been contenders since 2017 but haven't been able to break through the championship ceiling, making only one NBA Finals in 2022 and losing to the Warriors. 

There is so much talent on this roster that adding someone like Blake Griffin won't do anything more than add a likable veteran piece that all players respect. Even without that, the Celtics are prohibitive favorites and will not be able to justify losing another championship year when they're head-and-shoulders above the competition right now.