Celtics players ‘begged’ Blake Griffin to rejoin their roster this year… but the six-time All-Star is ‘enjoying life’ while sitting out the NBA season

Even though Blake Griffin hasn’t played a minute of NBA basketball this season, that hasn’t stopped his former Celtics teammates from pushing for his return to Boston.

On Monday, Celtics guards Derrick White and Payton Pritchard showed up excuse me and spoke highly of the six-time All-Star as he sits out this season as a free agent. Griffin played 41 games as a role player for the Celtics last season but opted to spend time with his family rather than re-sign, according to league sources.

When asked why the power forward is absent this season, White and Pritchard admitted they have tried to get Griffin back into the team.

‘Don’t know. We begged him for it,” Pritchard said on the programme.

“I think the whole team has been begging him for that,” White added.

According to NBA sources, Griffin will sit out the entire season as a free agent to spend time with his family

Griffin played in 41 games for the Celtics last season as a role player coming off the bench

Several players have done that Reportedly contacted Griffin in December about a possible return. Nearly two months later, efforts to engineer a return have been resuming for weeks.

“I texted him a week or two ago and joked, ‘Are you coming back for one last ride?’ He says he’s enjoying his life,” Pritchard added.

The comments prompted Dan Katz to call out Griffin during the segment. While fending off questions about a return this season, the big man claimed he is enjoying his time out of the league.

“We talk quite a bit,” Griffin said. “I’m just enjoying my life now, guys.”

Griffin went on to praise his former team, calling them his favorites to win the NBA title.

“They’re my favorites,” Griffin said of Boston’s title chances. “I can’t guarantee it, I don’t want to put any bad juju on it, but in my mind they are the big favorites.”

Griffin landed in Boston after stints with the Clippers, Nets and Pistons. His high-flying and dunk-heavy playing style saw him star in the Clippers’ famed Lob City era with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan.

Despite spending just one year in Boston, Griffin raved about his lone season with the Celtics on a Barstool Sports podcast last summer.

The Celtics added Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis this season to strengthen their roster

Griffin has made six All-Star selections and previously played for the Clippers, Pistons and Nets

“Boston is incredible,” Griffin said. “Living in Boston and playing in Boston was one of the best experiences.

“Dude, the fans are incredible. Having a team that is so championship-oriented. One of the coolest things is that the players on that team are just such a great group of guys.”

This offseason, the Celtics added massive reinforcements by adding guard Jrue Holiday and center Kristaps Porzingis to the roster. Additionally, they added Xavier Tillman at the trade deadline to join Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet in the Celtics’ frontcourt.

The Celtics technically have an open spot if the team successfully convinces Griffin to return. However, Tillman’s acquisition likely indicates that they don’t expect Griffin to return anytime soon.