Despite coming off a win and heading into his first All-Star weekend, Blake Griffin was inconsolable.
After beating the Timberwolves in their last game before the All-Star break on Wednesday, the Clippers' rookie got a phone call informing him of the death of his longtime friend, Wilson Holloway, who died of complications from Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Griffin did not speak to the media Wednesday, but on Friday told the slew of reporters covering the All-Star game that his plans for the weekend have not changed -- except for one thing. He's dedicating his first-ever All-Star appearance to Holloway.
"It's just crazy how it happens," Griffin said in an All-Star press conference. "I'm just thankful for the opportunity to be able to do this and hopefully dedicate some of this to him."
The rookie had tears in his eyes as he described the bond he had with Holloway, who Griffin played high school basketball with and has known since he was 12.
"Everyone, obviously, is deeply upset," Griffin said. "At the same time, he wouldn't want anybody to feel sorry for him. He wouldn't want anybody to be upset about it. He's better now -- he's not hurting."
Griffin is the first player ever to compete in the main event on all three nights of All-Star weekend. He'll headline the rookie/sophomore game Friday night, the dunk contest Saturday and the All-Star game Sunday.
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Despite his loss, Griffin cracked a smile while expressing his excitement for the weekend's coming events.
"The rookie game is going to be cool, the slam dunk should be just as cool, but the big game on Sunday -- that's the biggest stage," he said.
Griffin will leave Los Angeles immediately following the game Sunday to attend Holloway's funeral in Oklahoma City on Monday. The Clippers face Griffin's hometown Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
