Detroit Pistons All-Star power forward Blake Griffin and point guard Derrick Rose have known each other for years.
Griffin and Rose played against each other on the AAU circuit when they were in middle school and high school. Both guys were the No. 1 overall pick in their respective draft classes and have gone through injuries in the NBA.
When Griffin first got to the Pistons, he noticed the atmosphere in the locker room wasn't what he wanted it to be after a loss. That's why the high-flyer is excited to have Rose with him in Detroit because both players have the same mindset.
“We had that conversation at lunch one day, talking about how early in our careers, we were so focused. Everything he was saying, I could really relate to because he was so focused,” Griffin told Rod Beard of The Detroit News. “We realized there’s a better balance because we did it too much. It has an effect on you. With that being said, we’re still cut from the same cloth in that everything means a little bit more. You can see that in the way he plays.
“When I first got here, I felt the atmosphere was a little bit more relaxed when we lost games. That’s not how I’ve ever been or the teams I’ve been on have been. That’s the same for him. Hopefully, we can get back this year where you come in the locker room after a loss and guys are pissed — because they should be — and not laughing and saying we have another (game) tomorrow.”
Both Griffin and Andre Drummond figure to get more easy looks at the basket playing with Rose, who remains one of the quickest players in the league and a strong driver despite undergoing four knee surgeries.
Griffin appeared in 75 games for the Pistons last season. The star big man put up 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.
Rose, meanwhile, averaged 18.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018-19. He signed a two-year deal with the Pistons this offseason.
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