For many NBA players the offseason is a time to give back to their alma maters — making appearances and playing or coaching in fundraiser games with other alumni.
It's all fun and games until someone brings up a change of scenery.
That was the case for Clippers star Blake Griffin, who was coaching the Legends Alumni Game at the University of Oklahoma on Saturday.
At halftime, Griffin was interviewed by announcer Toby Rowland, who told Griffin: “I thought it was a thunderous start for your team in this game,” to the intense roar of 4,000 people in the crowd.
The recruiting efforts for Blake Griffin to come to #OKC are in motion #Sooners #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/LIDI2jt9T5
— Nikki Kay (@NikkiKayKFOR) August 27, 2016
The reference was to the impending free-agency slate that awaits Griffin next offseason. The Oklahoma City Thunder have reportedly been interested in acquiring Griffin now that Kevin Durant is gone.
The Clippers forward kindly laughed it off, though surely Rowland had to feel somewhat accomplished by setting the wheels in motion for a possible Griffin landing next year.
The Griffin-coached Crimson team beat the Cream team 96-89 — coached by Pelicans‘ first-round selection Buddy Hield.
Our two consensus nat'l players of the year signed for an hour after the alumni game. Big thanks to Blake and Buddy! pic.twitter.com/cUc7XPEy9n
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) August 27, 2016
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