There was a certain nervous anticipation flowing through the Clippers training facility for Media Day on Monday, a feeling that manifested itself interestingly with the different members of the team. Some players decided to hang back from the fray and observe the scene. Other guys, like returning big men Craig Smith and DeAndre Jordan, practically bounced off the walls, hamming it up for the cameras and playing the role of class clowns for the afternoon. When Eric Gordon emerged on the scene with his usual cool brand of stoicism, he was swarmed by the media as if he were the most popular kid in school, with everyone wanting for a little bit of that gold to rub off on them.
While the scene played out around him, rookie forward Marqus Blakely painted an accurate picture of the day’s proceedings.
“I feel like I’m a freshman all over again,” Blakely said. “You got your rookies who kind of hang together, and your vets that know the ropes; they’re the seniors in the class. It’s definitely like coming out and going to school again. It’s exciting.”
That excitement, a feeling echoed by most every Clipper, isn’t unfounded. After all, at this point the team is undefeated, right? Hope springs eternal, does it not? It’s a fresh start for the Clippers, and there’s no player more ready for that clean slate than Blake Griffin. Some guys spend the majority of their offseason away from basketball, taking a reprieve from the game. Griffin has made it quite clear that he’s not one of those guys.
“I’m so excited, I can’t wait,” Griffin said. “I’ve been literally counting the days down just waiting.
How can you quantify that excitement, that anxiousness to get back on the court? It’s not easy, but Griffin gave it his best shot on a scale of ten.
“I’m about a twenty or a thirty probably,” Griffin quipped. “I was excited for last year, and this year it’s almost doubled. I just can’t wait to get out there.”
That level of energy being infused into the team by Griffin and the multiple other rookies is a very tangible thing. Already you can see it weave its way throughout the roster, touching even the most tenured of players and staff members.
“I think the young guys are basketball hungry,” veteran guard Baron Davis said. “They come in wide eyed but with a lot of hard work and a lot focus. Each and every day they’ve been pushing me and I’ve been pushing them. It’s going to be fun. I feel like a kid again – the fun is there.”
Vice President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey has been with the organization for seven years and has seen the highest of highs and lowest of lows, but he couldn’t help but beam about the unit he’s assembled.
“I’ve never seen the attitude more positive going into media day than it’s been this entire month,” Olshey said. “The commitment level from the guys who have to go play the game is at a level that I haven’t seen since 2005-06.”
The positive early returns haven’t happened by dumb luck. When the Clippers entered the offseason with only five players on their roster, the opportunity to restructure the team emerged. After so many years without one, a team identity could finally be forged organically.
“It’s about trying to create an environment that guys want to be a part of,” Olshey said. “That’s what Vinny (Del Negro) and his staff have done. Guys showed up for a day and stayed for a week; they showed up for a week and stayed for a month. It’s because they wanted to be a part of it, not because you were trying to find them or mandate they be here. They wanted to be here.”
Rookies rarely need motivation, but everywhere you look on this roster there’s a player with something to prove. Chris Kaman is set to show his All-Star berth wasn’t a fluke. Baron Davis is back with a new system and new toys to play with in an effort to recapture some of his magic of old. Eric Gordon is looking to show he can translate his big time performance overseas directly to the league. And how about the kid everyone has been waiting for? Well, Blake Griffin just wants to finally show everyone that he’s still Blake Griffin.
“It’s going to be an exciting team,” Blake said. “We’re going to be athletic and we’re going to get out and run. “
Although it’s not quite what he meant, plenty of running is definitely on the horizon with training camp starting this week. With the first day in the books and the class syllabus reiterated repeatedly by teachers and students alike (hint: the key component starts with a D and ends with a fence), the Clippers are absolutely chomping at the bit to get out there.
“This is an exciting part of the season, to get everything going and started,” Del Negro said. “We have a lot of work to do but we have really good character guys that are hungry to be successful. Now it’s the matter of putting in the work every day to find ways to get better.”
The team will officially start that work this week as training camp kicks off. After months of anticipation and calendar watching, the time has finally arrived. There was no bell to signify the start, but class for the Clippers is most definitely in session.
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