Team USA

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Blake Griffin Mic'd At Team USA Scrimmage

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Karen Song

LAS VEGAS – It wasn’t the NBA All-Star Game, but it very well could’ve seemed like it to anyone tuning in to watch Thursday night’s Team USA Showcase game.

Most players stayed for both days of Team USA minicamp practices, but while some departed before Thursday’s Showcase, Blake Griffin decided to stick around.

Griffin was among a group of five players including Kawhi Leonard, DeMarcus Cousins, Klay Thompson, Arron Afflalo and Michael Carter-Williams to play at least 20 minutes apiece for USA White. Griffin finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and more than one acrobatic dunk in helping lead him team past USA Blue, 134-128.

Among his multiple dunks, Griffin slammed one down on Kenneth Faried and finished another off the backboard from Carter-Williams.

“It’s a lot of fun to be out there, put on the USA jersey and have fun with these guys and try to put on a show,” Griffin said.

And that’s what it was. With little defense being played, Team USA tried to cater to the near-full crowd at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas by showing off their aerial skills. Even the big men started lobbing up the alley-oops while point guards went in to dunk.

Team USA basketball chairman and national team managing director Jerry Colangelo said he thought it set the tone going forward for next summer and the 2016 Rio Olympics. Colangelo also said this time around the plan is to announce the 12-man roster for the 2016 Rio Olympics after the NBA Draft in June instead of bringing more playing in for a tryout camp.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the results,” Colangelo said. “I thought tonight’s game, we had a great crowd and we’re very appreciative. I think the guys put on a nice show. We said it was going to be very similar to an All-Star Game, and that’s what it was. It couldn’t have gone any better. We got a lot accomplished.”

Head coach Mike Krzyzewski was pleased no one got hurt and that all 34 players Team USA asked to show up at some point to minicamp managed to do so.

“That says it all right there. You have that kind of commitment, you have a chance to be successful,” Krzyzewski said. “They had fun. They all want to be a part of USA basketball…Everyone kind of did a little bit more than they were supposed to. They all fit well under the USA umbrella.”

Griffin said with some of the players leaving before the game, Team USA needed bodies, and he’s glad he decided to stay and play in front of the good crowd.

“It’s just good to get everybody together, really, get to see all the guys, see all the coaches and just show that this means something to us,” Griffin said. “I really enjoyed being here.”

Full 2015-16 Schedule →Olympic Chance In Reach For Blake Griffin →

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Griffin Scores 15 Points In Team USA Showcase

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Photos: Team USA Training Camp Day 2

Video Recap: Team USA Training Camp Day 2

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LAS VEGAS – Every day Blake Griffin woke up, the dream was literally in view.

A poster of the first “Dream Team” hung above Griffin’s bed from the time he was 8 years old until he went to college.

Michael Jordan. Clyde Drexler. Chris Mullin. Christian Laettner. Larry Bird. Magic Johnson. David Robinson. Patrick Ewing.

Those were just a few of the names Griffin, off the top of his head, began rattling off from that star-studded Team USA Olympic squad as he fielded questions during this year’s Team USA minicamp.

“Seeing that all the time, seeing what they represent, not just playing for the U.S. but how they represented themselves and how well they did and how polarizing they were is something I definitely dreamed about as a kid,” Griffin said.

That dream was supposed to be fulfilled three years ago. It was in his grasp. He was supposed to be on the gold medal winning team prior to a grim moment in July 2012. Griffin tore his meniscus in his left knee during a practice for Team USA immediately prior to the 2012 London Olympics; he knew the dream would at least be postponed.

“It was frustrating, especially watching the games and being so close,” Griffin said. “I went through the tryout, made the team, practiced for a whole week and then on the Wednesday before our first exhibition game on Thursday, got hurt and had to fly home and have surgery.”

In the immediate aftermath, two obvious consequences took over Griffin’s thoughts. One, the Olympics would have to wait until 2016. And, more importantly and more pressingly, Griffin didn’t want to put the start of the 2012-13 training camp and season in jeopardy.

“My biggest concern initially was to get back and be ready for NBA season, because obviously the Olympics were out,” Griffin said. “Initially, my whole thing was get back stronger, healthy, be ready for the season.
“It’s just a balancing thing. You have great pride to play for your country. You get to play with these types of players. But at the same time, you know, the NBA is kind of what allowed me to get to this place and to be in this gym right here.”

Griffin didn’t let the surgery stop him from being ready for the NBA season, accomplishing his goal of returning to the Clippers in a timely fashion. He played in 80 games during the 2012-13 season.

It’s three years later, with just a year remaining before the final Team USA squad gets assembled for the Rio Olympics, and Griffin’s not only on the cusp of playing in the Olympics for the first time – he’s also more prepared for that opportunity.

Griffin averaged 3.9 more points and 1.6 more assists per game last season than he did during the 2012-13 season three seasons ago following the missed OIympic opportunity. He also shot a career-high 72.8 percent from the line last season, a whopping 6.8 percent better than that 2012-13 season.

In addition to his ability to distribute and pass as well as any big man in the league, Griffin’s developed his touch significantly. Griffin shot 38.8 percent on jump shots last season and 40.7 percent on shots from 16 feet out to the 3-point after shooting 33 percent and 34 percent on such shots, respectively, just three seasons ago.

“Guys guarding him, we all notice for sure,” said LaMarcus Aldridge.

So does Griffin’s Team USA head coach, Mike Krzyzewski. As nice as it is to see Griffin with the team now at minicamp, Coach K said it’ll be much nicer to see him with Team USA next summer.

“Blake’s improved so much as a player, especially in his scoring ability,” Krzyzewski said. “We’ve missed not having him, especially last summer. But he’s here now.”

And, if Griffin has it his way, he’ll be there again a year from now, ready to make his dream a reality and be the player hanging up on another kid’s poster.

“I just want another shot at it,” Griffin said, “and I think I’ll hopefully have it.”

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Olympic Chance Within Reach Again For Blake Griffin

Video Recap: Team USA Training Camp Day 1

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Team USA Training Camp Day 1

LAS VEGAS – Blake Griffin stood near the elbow during a drill Tuesday afternoon and lobbed a pass up to DeAndre Jordan to finish the alley-oop, but this wasn’t a Clippers practice.

Griffin, Jordan and Chris Paul all took part in the first practice of the Team USA minicamp Tuesday, with the Clippers serving as one of three NBA teams with at least three players attending the camp.

Paul, who won a gold medal at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, said some of the best experiences of his life happened while playing for Team USA, so it’s always fun to get all the players back together.

“Just think about how many guys play in the NBA that never have this opportunity to represent your country,” Paul said. “There’s no greater feeling…It’s cool to talk about the journey of how we got here.”

Paul, who’s experienced the joy of winning two gold medals, has a different journey than his two teammates who are also practicing with the team. Griffin had to miss the 2012 Olympics after hurting his knee, and Paul said it’d be unbelievable to get a chance to compete for another gold medal with both his teammates this time around.

“I remember in 2012 when me and Blake were practicing, trying to get ready for this team, and we talked about how special it would be to actually play on one of these teams with one of your teammates,” Paul said. “To have the opportunity to play with two of them would be even better.”

Whether or not Paul will get that chance remains to be seen, but all three are appreciating the time they have together with Team USA while representing the Clippers at the minicamp.

“It’s amazing,” Griffin said. “To have two of your teammates that you’re with during the regular season play on the Olympic squad and play in the summer together, it’s awesome. It’s just a lot of fun.”

The first day of the men’s national team’s minicamp wasn’t too trying, as players mostly shot around, stretched and took part in light drills. But the players’ presences in Las Vegas showed how serious they are about wanting to be a part of another Olympic run.

Jordan said it’s great to be around “so many great minds and players and athletes,” and while he knows some of the star players will make the team while others won’t, it’s special just to have the opportunity for a chance to represent USA.

“It’s fun to be thought about as a guy they would consider to have a shot at the national team,” Jordan said. “It’s something that we all think about as kids. Winning a gold medal, that’s the highest. Just to be a part of that and have that chance, it’s cool…I really want to be here next summer too, preparing to go to Brazil. That’s a big goal of mine.”

In addition to the Clippers’ trio, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were also on the court. The Cavaliers also had three players invited to the USA minicamp in LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, who’s still rehabbing from his postseason shoulder injury.

Team USA minicamp provides players a rare opportunity to put rivalries aside and enjoy the experience of practicing together with the best players in the league, all with one goal in mind. Paul said head coach Mike Krzyzewski reminds his players it’s all about getting ready for Rio in 2016.

“I think it’s just about getting the guys together, and like Coach K’s been talking about, talking about the commitment,” Paul said. “Everyone here’s obviously making the commitment and wants the opportunity to be a part of that 2016 Olympic team.”