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Reading: Derrick White And Payton Pritchard Reveal The Celtics Team Begged Blake Griffin To Return And He Refused
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Derrick White And Payton Pritchard Reveal The Celtics Team Begged Blake Griffin To Return And He Refused

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

Derrick White and Payton Pritchard opened up on how badly the Celtics roster wants Blake Griffin back on the team.

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Feb 27, 2024
4 Min Read
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Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics are looking like the clear favorites to lift the 2024 NBA Championship. They have a complete roster, but they still want more pieces to solidify their status. One of those pieces, as revealed by Derrick White and Payton Pritchard on Pardon My Take, is the return of Blake Griffin.  

Dan Katz: “How awesome of a teammate was Blake Griffin?”

Derrick White: “He was the best.”

Dan Katz: “Why does he no longer play basketball?”

Derrick White: “I think the whole team has been begging him to come back to Boston.”

Payton Prichard: “I texted him like a week or two ago like, ‘wanna come for one last ride?’ He said he’s enjoying his life.”

Everyone needs a teammate like Blake Griffin@DraftKings #DKPartner pic.twitter.com/UlYvyZKdKe

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) February 26, 2024

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.

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support. 

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Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Blake GriffinBoston Celtics ArchiveDerrick White
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ByIshaan Bhattacharya
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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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