Blake Griffin Keeps Eye on John Wall/Team USA

[mkwest]

If the Los Angeles Clippers' power forward is named NBA Rookie of the Year this season, he would join Hall of Famers Jerry Lucas, Larry Bird and David Robinson in a most interesting category. They are the only players to have won the award in a year other than the one immediately after being drafted.

Lucas, the 1963-64 winner, was drafted in 1962 but wasn't active in the NBA for a year because he was going to play for the American Basketball League's Cleveland Pipers until the league folded. Bird, the 1979-80 honoree, was drafted in 1978 but went back to Indiana State for a final season. And Robinson, who hoisted the trophy in 1989-90, was drafted out of Navy in 1987 but had to fulfill two years of military service.

"A lot can happen from now until (the end of the season),'' Griffin said of it being way too early to say how he stacks for Rookie of the Year. "You just have to wait and see. I remember at the beginning of the year (last season) everybody was talking about (Milwaukee's) Brandon Jennings. And then (Sacramento's) Tyreke Evans just kept steadily doing his thing (and ended up winning the award).''

"I watched the highlights from their overtime win the other night,'' Griffin said of Wall totaling 29 points, 13 assists and nine steals in a 116-115 triumph over Philadelphia last Tuesday. "If they're on TV, I'm always watching games. But I don't check the box score every night. But I know he's doing well.''

Colangelo has both Griffin and Wall on his watch list for 2012 Olympics

"That'd be great,'' Griffin said of hoping to play for Team USA in the 2012 Olympics in London. "But there's a ton of guys who deserve to be on that team. It'd be a real cool thing to do. ... If there's a spot, I'll definitely be willing to work for it.''

Chris Tomasson, NBA Fanhouse

[Em1]

I would prefer if he kept an eye on the second half of basketball games and helping us win them.