NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers Force Blake Griffin Comeback; DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul Pressure C to Return

By Mitch de Leon
Blake Griffin
The Los Angeles Clippers expect Blake Griffin to rejoin DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul in an effort to beat Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors. Keith Allison/Flickr CC

The Los Angeles Clippers painfully climbed their way back up in the Golden State Warriors dominated Western Conference. At number four in the division, the Chris Paul squad has to battle the healthy stars in the top three such as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard and Tim Duncan. For their part, the big three of the Los Angeles Clippers have not been complete since December. Hence, their spectacular rise in the Western Conference has been applauded by the basketball community. With the NBA playoffs fast approaching, however, the Los Angeles Clippers will need more than just DeAndre Jordan winging it in the hardwood court.

Rumors are circulating that the Los Angeles Clippers are pushing Blake Griffin to return sooner than expected. With the seemingly unstoppable Golden State Warriors on top and the subtly aggressive San Antonio trailing closely behind, the Doc Rivers squad must pull out all the stops to beat these teams. Moreover, the Oklahoma City Thunder are continuously proving that they are a group to be reckoned with as Durant and Westbrook lead the team to pursue the top spot as well. Will Griffin's return truly make a difference in the Los Angeles Clippers' ranking this NBA season?

"Honestly, I won't know really until I get out there," shared Griffin of his possible contribution to the los Angeles Clippers in the crucial games to come this NBA season. He added, "I mean, I've done drills -- simulated drills -- for this week. I practiced for the first time last Saturday. So, I don't have a really good feel for in-game conditioning and endurance. That'll kind of be a thing we figure out as we go along."

To add to his uncertainty, Griffin shared that his injury in the left quadriceps tendon has yet to completely heal. He also shared that his health issues were not immediately addressed in the past, thereby leading to more issues that lengthened his absence in the hardwood court. In a nutshell, the Los Angeles Clippers center will play with the tear.

"It just wasn't being allowed to heal. So, the tear's still there. It's just about managing the pain and getting through this. It's not like a new tear or re-tearing my [quad] in different places. It wasn't allowing the initial injury to completely heal," shared Griffin. He further said, "I don't want to say misdiagnosed, but it wasn't doing the right things, I guess? We weren't addressing the initial problem -- the main problem."

Does this mean that the Los Angeles Clippers are forcing Griffin to return? Are they desperate enough to risk the NBA star's health just to beat the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder?

The answer is no. Although Rivers is glad of Griffin's recovery, the Los Angeles Clippers head coach still places his team's health on top of everything else - including a potential NBA championship. He shared, "I don't know if it'll be a [minutes limit] or just a limit because you haven't played in three months and so you just have to watch."

He added, "I don't care if you're healthy and 100 percent. You just got to be careful. You don't want to throw a guy out there and let him get injured because you're overplaying him. So we just have to be very careful."

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.

Top Stories