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Blake Griffin Hand Pics Show Swelling, Surgery Scar: Will This Affect NBA Trade Rumors?

By Jonathan Franks
Published on: 14:02 PST, Feb 3, 2016

NBA star Blake Griffin is apparently still suffering from a swollen right hand and there are pics circulating online to prove it.

TMZ Sports released pictures of the Los Angeles Clippers star, which were taken in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Griffin is wearing a hoodie, cap, shades, and sweatpants in the pictures while holding a water bottle. However, the major highlight of the picture has more to do with his right hand than his overall fashion sense.

As seen in the photos, Blake Griffin’s right hand is still very swollen nearly one week after he underwent a major surgery to repair his spiral fracture. The 26-year-old power forward injured his hand after punching the team equipment manager during a violent encounter in late January. According to TMZ Sports, Blake has a projected recovery timeline of four to six weeks even though his surgery was apparently successful.

It is rather easy to see the surgical scar on his right hand from the operation, which focused on repairing the damage done to his fourth metacarpal during his altercation.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the altercation between Blake Griffin and equipment manager Matias Testi started off with “routine” teasing that eventually got out of hand. Matias and Blake were reportedly out to dinner with Clippers star DeAndre Jordan, as well as assistant athletic trainer Joe Resendez.

The report states that the altercation between Griffin and Testi heated up inside of the restaurant as well as in front of the establishment. Blake reportedly punched Matias “multiple times” — leaving the equipment manager with a severely swollen face. Even though police officers did speak with both Blake and Matias after the incident, Deadspin reports that “Testi played it off and no report was taken.”

Blake Griffin issued a statement in reference to the altercation on his Twitter page on January 26, according to the Orange County Register.

“A situation among friends escalated and I regret the way I handled myself towards someone I care about,” Griffin said in the statement. “I want to apologize to the Clippers organization, my teammates and the fans for creating this distraction. I am working with the team on a resolution and getting back in the game as soon as possible.”

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers and team owner Steve Ballmer also issued a joint statement of their own, making it clear that “this conduct has no place in [their] organization and this incident does not represent who [they] are as a team.” Rivers and Ballmer further explained that they are “conducting a full investigation with assistance from the NBA” — an investigation which will eventually lead to “appropriate action” being taken as a result of Blake Griffin’s actions.

According to Sports Illustrated, the NBA has already interviewed Blake’s teammate DeAndre Jordan.

This is not the first time that a violent encounter involving Blake made headlines. The five-time NBA All-Star was charged with misdemeanor battery back in October of 2014 after an altercation that took place in Las Vegas.

Blake Griffin allegedly took a cell phone from the venue’s owner after he took a picture of Blake and several of his teammates, according to Sporting News. The charges associated with that incident were dismissed in March of 2015 due to lack of evidence.

With Blake’s troubled past and injury history, rumors and speculation of a possible NBA trade have circulated online. For instance, multiple reports have focused on the possibility of a trade that would send Kevin Durant to the Los Angeles Clippers. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that “if the opportunity comes to move Blake Griffin and replace him with Durant, the Clippers won’t hesitate.”

However, the report further states that the Clippers are apparently not in a rush to get rid of Blake Griffin. They are “determined to play the year out with Griffin” and see just how far the Los Angeles Clippers are able to go in the playoffs.

[Image Credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images]

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