Blake Griffin had standing Celtics offer to return before retiring

When the NBA season started, there was still some wonder on if Blake Griffin would land with a team. He spent last season with the Celtics as a beloved locker room member, but he hadn’t landed with a new team through training camp then onto the beginning of the season.

As it turns out, Griffin had a chance to return to the Celtics — it’s just that he didn’t necessarily want the opportunity. Griffin announced his retirement from his 14-year NBA career Tuesday, signaling the end of the road for the six-time All-Star. Griffin recently went on the “Pardon My Take” podcast to discuss retirement — and what ended up being a potential Celtics return.

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“I kind of left it open for a while,” Griffin said. “I did have a sort of standing offer to go back to Boston. I remember end of December hit, and I called Brad Stevens and I was like, ‘Man, I really appreciate it.’ I had communication with him the whole time. I wasn’t there, man. I don’t know. Something changed. And I knew when something changed like that, it was time to be done.”

His Celtics teammates clearly wanted him back — Derrick White and Payton Pritchard said they begged the former All-Star to return to the team. Griffin still gets plenty of respect from his C’s teammates despite spending just one season in Boston. But it was clear the veteran commanded respect and was well-liked in the locker room.

But now, Griffin gets to spend time with his family away from the game. And after a long NBA career, it’s no surprise Griffin wanted a change-of-pace away from the grind.

“If I had gone anywhere, I would’ve gone back to Boston,” Griffin said. “I love those guys. I’m pulling for them, and they have a great shot. But it was just time for me to be done. I wouldn’t have been able to give what I should give to a team if my heart truly wasn’t in it.”

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