Nearly two weeks after officially signing with the Brooklyn Nets, Blake Griffin on Sunday debuted his team in their 113-106 victory over the Washington Wizards. Overall, it was a rather inconspicuous performance, as he finished with a pedestrian two points, two rebounds and a block within 15 minutes.
However, there was one moment that everyone was talking about. Early in the fourth quarter, Griffin takes a pass from James Harden at the top of the key. He pumps fake, leaves Robin Lopez standing in the dust and sails down the track for a two-stroke. The dunk in itself was not very impressive, but it was remarkable because it was the first time Griffin had been immersed in a match since December 12, 2019 – 464 days ago.
Griffin’s sudden lack of refusal and athleticism was a major topic of conversation earlier this season, and there were many jokes about how he would suddenly discover it when he joined the Nets. He did not become Blake completely overnight in 2012, but he certainly threw one down.
“It felt great,” Griffin said. ‘I knew as soon as it happened, I would try not to look at the couch when I got back. But then I peeked and saw DeAndre [Jordan] all the way out and everyone stands up. So it’s hard not to smile in that situation, but it feels good to get it out of the way and move on. ‘
Griffin is still on a minute limit and will be restricted to about 15 minutes for at least the next few games. Before Sunday, he last played on February 12, so he still needs to work his way back to game form, and the Nets are going to be extra careful considering his recent knee problems.