As the NBA season tips off, the Clippers are still dealing with fallout from an offseason that hit them from every direction. The league’s penalties for circumventing the cap to pay Kawhi Leonard more than was legally allowed closed the book on a year-long investigation, and the punishment came hard: Steve Ballmer was banned from NBA activities for a year, multiple executives were suspended, the team was fined, and Los Angeles will lose five first-round picks from 2028 through 2033.
That mess ended with Leonard’s exit to the Raptors, leaving the franchise with a fresh round of baggage and a long climb out from under it. For fans, it has brought back memories of better times more than excitement about what comes next.
Blake Griffin knows exactly why that stings. Ahead of the Oct. 20 premiere of his new show, The Stepback With Blake Griffin, he told Sports Illustrated the part that bothers him most is what all of this means for Clippers fans.
“Obviously it’s a huge bummer,” the longtime Clippers star said. “I think the thing that I keep coming back to is, I’m really bummed for Clippers fans.
I’m still living here in L.A. and being out and about and just running into Clippers fans all the time, like, you talk about a loyal fan base. That franchise hasn't had a lot to really celebrate in terms of championships or huge postseason runs.
I just feel bad for the fans. “But you’ll get through this next 5 years.
And at the end of the day, when I got drafted by the Clippers, Donald Sterling was notoriously one of the worst owners (in the NBA) and also notoriously cheap. Some Clippers fans have experienced that end of the spectrum.
“Then Steve (Ballmer) is coming in and revamping everything, new arena, paying maybe a little too much for players. But I mean, if you’re a fan, I’d want my owner doing everything possible.
Within the rules, but doing everything possible (to succeed). So they get through these five years and then I hope that they get back to that place because that's what Clippers fans deserve.”
Griffin spent five All-Star seasons in Los Angeles and was central to the franchise’s best stretch, teaming with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan during a run of six straight playoff appearances that included three series wins. That era helped shape the Clippers fan base that is now staring at leaner years without the usual draft-pick cushion.
The organization then found itself in another public dispute when Bradley Beal was set to wear No. 3 this season, the same number Chris Paul wore during his Clippers peak. Paul, “CP3,” remains one of the defining players in team history, but the ending between him and the franchise was awkward. He returned for what looked like a farewell run last season, then was sent home in December, cutting off his career with the Clippers suddenly.
The decision to let Beal take the number drew backlash, with many fans arguing the jersey should be retired instead. Beal addressed the reaction in a social media post, calling Paul a “legend” whose “HISTORY and BRAND can’t be touched, nor erased!!”
Griffin said he agreed with that idea, even with the way Paul’s Clippers stint ended.
“How Chris exited was obviously disappointing, I think, for him and the fans,” he said. “It doesn't take away from that No. 3 with Paul on the back.
That's the jersey, you know what I mean? I think a lot of fans would love to see that number retired.”
And what about Griffin’s own No. 32?
It’s one of the most recognizable numbers in franchise history, and no one has worn it since the Clippers traded him in 2018. Griffin said the team hasn’t told him there are plans to retire it, and he made it clear he wouldn’t be out there pushing for it himself.
“To me jersey retirements are a fan and an organization thing,” the former NBA star said. “More so an organization thing, obviously, but I'm not gonna be, like, campaigning myself.
I don't plan to go outside of Intuit Dome and be like, ‘Retire 32! Come on, guys.
Come on, who's with me?’ Obviously it would be a huge honor, but… I think they're figuring some stuff out.”
In Other News...
Clippers Could Pounce If Orlando Hesitates On Rising Young Guard
Anthony Blacks next contract is already shaping up as one of the more interesting subplot in Orlando, and it has a potential ripple effect for teams watching from the sidelines. Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that the Magic have not yet been willing to put a deal in front of the young guard that matches the kind of money Brandin Podziemski recently landed, which keeps the situation fluid as Black continues to build value.
For the Clippers, that uncertainty matters because they are in position to use their available cap space if Orlando decides to slow-play the process. Black is still viewed as a player whose size, defensive versatility and long-term upside could fit on a team looking to add young talent without sacrificing flexibility, and if the market opens up at the right time, Los Angeles is one of the clubs set up to make a run. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Preseason Left Cam Christie In A Tough Early Fight
The Clippers got some useful answers in preseason, and a few of them came from unexpected places. Darius Garland looked comfortable steering the group, mixing efficient scoring with the kind of steady leadership that can settle a second unit, while Baba Miller carved out a real lane for himself by giving the bench frontcourt some needed substance.
Cam Christie, though, was left in a tougher spot. In limited chances, he never got his shot going and the ball security issues added to the pressure around him, which is exactly the sort of early preseason stumble that can make the battle for a roster spot feel even tighter. [Read more 🡒]