Blake Griffin’s hop went nowhere. He was just waiting for the right moment to pop them again.
During pregame warmups ahead of Monday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, the former Slam Dunk champion told teammate Derrick White to lob him in the game. And, as he told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin later that night, “I had to keep my word.”
Midway through the second quarter, White caught a pass from Jayson Tatum on the free throw line and as he turned to the basket, he saw Griffin begin to move inside from the right corner. White took a dribble, floated a perfect lob, and vintage Griffin exploded two feet, caught the ball with his right hand, and threw it with authority to give the Celtics a 59-37 lead.
The Boston bench cleared and the crowd went into a frenzy, celebrating Griffin’s first dunk in a Celtics uniform, the most exhilarating moment of a dominating 140-105 win for the home side.
Griffin dived nearly 1,100 times in his 12-year career, but he hadn’t thrown one through the iron since March 21 of last season, when he was with the Brooklyn Nets. He had to show his new teammates that he could still get high like before – at least so he could put an end to their playful teasing.
“I had to put up with a lot of jokes from these guys,” the 33-year-old said with a smile, “and I’ve handed out a few myself, so it’s probably justified. But it’s just nice to get out here and mix it up a bit.
Starting in place of Al Horford, who sat out the second night in a row with a stiff lower back, Griffin launched the offense earning the first tip, then knocking down a 3-pointer on the first-ever possession of the game. He scored a season-high nine points on 4-of-5 shooting and also grabbed two rebounds on either end of the floor.
Griffin admits it took him a few weeks to get his legs under him in this new setting, but he’s been getting better and better every day since arriving in Boston.
Such professionalism did not go unnoticed by interim head coach Joe Mazzulla, who showed his gratitude to Griffin after the game.
“He’s a great person,” Mazzulla said. “He’s been great for our team on and off the pitch, he plays hard, he’s super aggressive and he’s a great teammate. And so, I thanked him for his professionalism and his work ethic to stay ready. It’s been a long year and we’re definitely going to need more this season.
Griffin’s work ethic goes beyond his contributions on the field. Even though his role isn’t as prominent as it once was, the six-time All-Star still provides an infectious energy as an uplifting spirit in the locker room.
“Blake is always in good spirits no matter what,” said Marcus Smart, who delivered a career-high 15 assists on Monday night. “You walk into that locker room and you’re down, he’s definitely going to pick you up. To have a guy like that who understands, who’s been in this league, who’s done spectacular things himself individually, and then comes in and plays a lesser role but is still happy and joyful about it, teaching us how to play younger , and then come and see what he did tonight, that’s all you can ask of a guy like Blake. He gives it every night. We love Blake and we’re glad he’s here.
Vintage Blake dunks are just a bonus.