Blake Griffin will make his Brooklyn Nets debut against the Washington Wizards on Sunday. Griffin said he’s getting a minute restriction.
Griffin last played against the Boston Celtics on February 12 when he was still a member of the Detroit Pistons. After agreeing to a buyout with Detroit and signing with Brooklyn, Griffin met with the Nets coaching staff and devised a plan to return to the game that would put him in shape.
“No one is left out for a month and then they come right back to play,” Griffin told ESPN. “So I just want to be smart and listen to people who know what they are talking about and make sure I give myself the best chance to participate and contribute and be healthy for the playoffs and beyond.”
While he was put on the disabled list for sustaining a left knee injury, Griffin has insisted he never hurt himself. On Sunday morning, Griffin said the Nets’ training staff were approaching their increased full-body workload and not just focusing on his knee.
Griffin was with the Nets on his last road trip to Indiana, working with the coaching staff of Nets and Kevin Durant, who missed the last 13 Nets games with a hamstring injury. Brooklyn has played a total of four games without Griffin since he signed with the franchise.
Griffin, 32, played 20 games for Detroit this season, averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists.