Blake Griffin was available to the media today at Playa Vista. He was in generally decent spirits for the cameras and microphones. Among the prevailing themes of his remarks was his acceptance that, in the back of his mind, he always knew that surgery was a possibility. That resignation made the news that he’d miss the remainder of the season a bit easier to swallow.
From my ESPN Los Angeles story:
The possibility of surgery on his fractured kneecap was always in the back of Clippers forward Blake Griffin’s mind, even as he slogged through the rehabilitation process with every intention of getting back on the floor before the All-Star break.
Once he experienced serious discomfort this week, that prospect became a reality. Griffin will undergo surgery Jan. 20 in Los Angeles. The current prognosis is for him to be off the court for between four and six months.
A stoic Griffin addressed the media Wednesday at the Clippers’ training facility. The rookie expressed disappointment that he won’t be able to take the floor this season, but he also conveyed a calm resolve at his misfortune.
“I don’t think of it as season-ending, because technically I haven’t started,” Griffin said. “I guess you could say it’s a debut-prolonging injury.”
… As difficult as the decision has been, Griffin noted that shutting it down for the season ends the waiting game, which was almost as excruciating as the rehab.
“It relieves any expectations for this season,” Griffin said. “Now I’m looking forward to next season.”
By not logging a single minute during the 2009-10 regular season, Griffin will officially start the 2010-11 season as a rookie. He’ll be eligible for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, but other issues surrounding his status remain uncertain.
“Hopefully next year I won’t have to get doughnuts or wear a backpack or anything like that,” he said. “I’m going to sit down and have a meeting with the veterans, so we’ll see.”
