The first ovation lasted 20 seconds for Detroit’s — not the Clippers’ — Blake Griffin during pregame introductions. The standing ovation that followed a two-minute video tribute full of dunks and commercial gags and community events and game-winners? That was another minute or so. But the applause that showered Griffin after the tribute during the first timeout Saturday at Staples Center wasn’t an adequate thank you, not for what he’s done for the Clippers. Not for what he meant in his seven-plus seasons in Los Angeles. That can’t be neatly edited together. During that time, the Clippers underwent a dramatic makeover, turning from punching bag to pugilists, from jokers to contenders, helping rewrite decades of narrative about the organization. Advertisement “I don’t look at what I did,” Griffin said after the Pistons’ 109-104 win in which he scored 44 points against his former team. “I was a part of it. The coolest thing to do is to be a part of something bigger than yourself, and that’s what that was. That’s what this was.” The rewriting of Clippers history is still in progress, even without Griffin as a main character. His return to Staples Center on Saturday was the final step in his term as a Clipper — he got the standing ovation and highlight package he deserved. He got to walk on the court, his face on the scoreboard, and show his gratitude to the Clippers’ fans. But that’s it. No more. This is closure. “Yeah, the next time you come here, it won’t be the same, obviously,” Griffin said. “It’s nice to get the game over with it. …There’s such big hype leading up to it.” The hype, in this case, was justified. His relationship with the organization is still icy after the Clippers dealt him last January. He’s been open with his displeasure in how the deal went down, with who told him what and when. He and Doc Rivers still haven’t spoken since the trade. “He’s not my coach anymore,” Griffin said frankly. “There’s no need to.” But, he’s also said that he’s glad the deal happened, that his time with the Clippers probably needed to end. That he didn’t win a title — that the Clippers never advanced past the second round of the playoffs — probably complicates his legacy in Los Angeles more than it should. Advertisement Griffin, along with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, went to the playoffs six consecutive seasons. In the 40 seasons before Griffin became a Clipper, the organization made only seven total trips to the playoffs. The Griffin-Jordan-Paul Clippers (that’s the order in which Rivers thinks the franchise should retire their jerseys someday) won 313 games — tied for third most over that six season span. “Blake was the star. He was the dunk contest winner. He wore a Clipper jersey and people understood. Now when you hear our name you don’t think of those Clippers, those bad Clippers before Blake. To me, Blake is the one that started that,” Rivers said. “Any success we have, in my opinion, from this point forward, is due to Blake, D.J. and Chris and in that order.” Because Griffin was a star, because he built a reputation for being a tireless worker, because he’s got career points-rebounds-assists averages that have been surpassed by only Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlain, the Clippers were able to get a shot at a brighter future by dealing him to Detroit. Advertisement The Clippers, thanks largely to the players and pick they acquired from the Pistons, look like a playoff team in a loaded Western Conference. Some prominent league executives think the team’s dream of landing Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant in free agency this summer isn’t far-fetched. Without Griffin, Paul doesn’t want to come to the Clippers. Without Griffin, Rivers would’ve ended up in a broadcast booth instead of on the Clippers’ sidelines. Without Griffin, the team wouldn’t have anywhere near relevance to spawn discussions of a new building. Without Griffin, the Clippers aren’t where they are today — a threat to have the biggest offseason since the Miami Heat added LeBron James and Chris Bosh. “He got it started,” Rivers said. A standing ovation during introductions, a two-minute walk down memory lane, another standing ovation — that’s a start to saying thank you. And if this summer goes as some think it will — and as the Clippers hope — those thank yous shouldn’t stop coming any time soon. Advertisement Without Griffin hopping over cars, without Griffin dunking over Timofey Mozgov, Kendrick Perkins and Pau Gasol, without Griffin having a triple-double in Game 7 of a playoff series, none of it would be possible. dan.woike@latimes.com Twitter: @DanWoikeSports<doc-sep>Griffin was traded from the Clippers abruptly last January after spending nine seasons in Los Angeles. Pistons forward Blake Griffin made his much-anticipated return to Los Angeles when Detroit took on the Clippers in the Staples Center on Saturday afternoon, with Detroit beating L.A. 109-104. As Griffin was about to head into the locker room after an early warm up, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was waiting for the five-time NBA All-Star on the sidelines. Ballmer extended his hand for a handshake, but Griffin ignored his attempt and instead seemingly sprinted off the court. Ballmer reportedly yelled “Blake! Blake!” with his hand out as Griffin made his way toward the locker room. Griffin claimed Saturday's run to the locker room is part of his normal pregame routine. He denied intentionally ignoring Balmer. Griffin did acknowledge the Staples Center crowd following a tribute video streamed on the arena's jumbotron during an early first-quarter timeout. The star big man was traded to Detroit abruptly last January after spending nine seasons in Los Angeles. The Clippers sent Griffin across the country alongside Brice Johnson and Willie Reed in exchange for Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovich, Tobias Harris, a first-round pick and a 2019 second-round pick. Griffin was averaging 25.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game this season for Detroit coming into Saturday's game. He finished the game with 44 points, eight rebounds and five assists.<doc-sep>
Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin returned to the Staples Center on Saturday for the first time since being traded by the Clippers in January of 2018. Though Griffin hasn't played in a Clippers uniform in a year, he couldn't completely close the book on that part of his career until he got his homecoming game out of the way. Now that it is, he's ready to move on, which he will on Monday night when the Pistons continue their road trip against the Jazz (9 p.m. ET -- Watch on FuboTV with NBA League Pass extension). "It was nice to get that game over with," Griffin said, via ESPN. "I kind of compare it to the first game of the year in a way. There's such a big hype leading up to it, and then once it's done, you have to play 81 more. Now we have to play 41 more or whatever it is. It's over and I'm moving on, they're moving on." The Clippers selected Griffin with the first pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, and he played an enormous role in elevating the franchise from a perennial doormat to a postseason staple. Accordingly, the organization honored Griffin with a tribute video on Saturday night. "I didn't see all of it, but I saw bits and pieces," Griffin said of the video. "It was really cool to be welcomed back like that. It means a lot. I appreciate all these fans here." Griffin was clearly amped up for the game against his former franchise, as he exploded for 44 points (13-of-23 from the floor) and helped propel the Pistons to a 109-104 win. Though the return was an emotional one for Griffin, he was able to manage his feelings. "I thought I did a good job for the most part [of managing emotions]," Griffin said. "I've played in some big games, and it was easier than I thought. I wasn't overhyped -- I was properly hyped." Griffin's new coach Dwane Casey could tell that getting a win in his return to L.A. was important to him. "I thought [the win] meant a lot to him," Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. "The most important thing was his teammates were excited for it, and that is a sign of togetherness, and wanted to pull for your teammate, the success of your teammate. I thought that was really important." Though Griffin doesn't suit up for the Clippers anymore, his impact on the franchise will be felt forever. "Blake, individually, is the one who started it all," Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said. "He's the dunk contest winner. He wore a Clipper jersey. People understood. And now when you hear our name, you don't think of those bad Clippers before Blake. So for me, Blake is the one who started that." Griffin is second in Clippers history in points (10,863), third in rebounds (4,686), and fifth in assists (2,133).