Six-time All-Star Blake Griffin was a double-double machine during his NBA career. It’s a score he’s avoiding as he spends more time on the course.
GOLF: As a fairly new convert to golf, what is one piece of advice you could give to other newbies trying to improve their game?
Blake Griffin: Good question. Here’s something I learned early in my basketball career: It doesn’t matter what you do in the first quarter; it’s what you do over the course of the game. The same goes for golf. It’s what you do on your rounds. You can have a great drive and then hit the next shot. Things are never as good as they seem or as bad as they seem. You just have to ride the wave, and that’s what I love about golf.
G: Solid recording. Now that you’re retired from the NBA [since 2023]what is a place you would like to play and where you would finally have the time to get there?
BG: I’ve played a lot of cool places, but I heard Bandon Dunes is great. I’d like to go up and check it out.
G: Where do you play the most golf now?
BG: I am a member of Lakeside Golf & Country Club in LA. I have a good group of guys who I play with regularly, but we also like to go to other places.
G: Speaking of travel, the NBA has some long road trips. Seeing teammates sneak off on a day off to get in a round do you ever wish you had played golf back then?
BG: My man, being on the road in the NBA means finding your own way. That’s what I tried to do.
G: You are famous for once jumping over a car during the slam dunk contest, which you won. What golf landmark would be cool to jump over? The Swilcan Bridge? Rae’s Creek?
BG: [Laughs] I don’t think I could jump over anything now. It’s been a long time, dude.
G: Besides the 8AM Invitational, what are some other celebrity tournaments you’ve had the opportunity to play in?
BG: I played in Tahoe – the Edgewood tournament [American Century Championship]. There were about 20,000 fans per day. That first day I was so nervous. I used to shake while practicing putts, you know. Even when I wasn’t planning on hitting the ball, I was still nervous.
G: Are there shots in general on the range that you are more nervous about?
BG: Like everything. I don’t even want to say it. As soon as I say it, it will be out there. Okay, any shot between 65 and 85 yards. Don’t know why.
G: Golfers are known to like to spend a few dollars on their matches. Keeps things interesting. How big is a bet that makes you nervous?
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