Griffin Faces Pressures Of Becoming First Overall Selection

Blake Griffin is a freak.

In a good way, of course.

He has the perfect combination of strength, athleticism, and work ethic.  To add to that, he will likely be the No. 1 selection in the NBA Draft, barring an odd Clippers selection (and we know that never happens, right?).

“In my mind, whether I go No. 1 or I go No. 60, I’m still the same player. It doesn’t matter.  Going No. 1 doesn’t make me a better player.  It’s all about what I do with it, how I handle it.  How I handle my business," said Griffin.

Griffin’s business is basketball, and he’s pretty good at handling it.

As a Freshman, he was named to the Big 12 first team, and the All-Rookie first team, all while averaging just a hair under 15 points per game.

This year, his sophomore year, he did even more.  He had 30 double-doubles this season, just one short of the NCAA record set by David Robinson.  His list of awards won in 2009 reads like a guest list at a night club: John Wooden Award, Adolph Rupp Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy, AP Big 12 Player of the Year, Coaches’ Big 12 Player of the Year, Unanimous AP All-American, Sports Illustrated Player of the Year.

Need I go on?

The point is that Griffin is good.  Really good.  No. 1 Pick good.

As for being the No. 1 pick?

“There have been guys before me that have handled it just fine.  Those are the guys I want to emulate, the guys I want to learn from," Griffin said.

If he does end up being the Clippers No. 1 draft pick, he just might want to find No. 1 picks that weren’t drafted by the Clippers. I don’t think Michael Olowokandi will be able to contribute much towards helping Griffin to become a great big man in this league.

For the Clippers sake, let’s hope that Griffin bucks the curse of their first overall selections.  

He’s certainly got the talent to do it.