Lou Williams confronts Blake Griffin over animosity after LA trade

Ex Los Angeles Clippers teammates Lou Williams and Blake Griffin revisited lingering emotions surrounding Griffin’s Trade to the Detroit Pistons in 2018 during a recent episode of FanDuel’s Run It Back, where both players made guest appearances.

Griffin reflected on how he feels According to the Clippers’ front office, things have changed over time, clarifying that his frustration was directed at management, not his former teammates.

“I think it lessens over time. I didn’t really feel any animosity, especially not toward any of the players — you definitely feel that toward people who made the right decision,” Griffin said. “But I mean, the wound heals and that sting is felt less and less. He also went from Dallas, which is a great city, to L.A., which is a great city where a lot of people want to play. So his situation is not that bad. He’s with a great franchise. So I would expect him to just get back to work this season.”

Lou Williams recalls Blake Griffin’s cold return to Los Angeles after his 2018 Clippers trade.

Griffin thought Luka Doncic, who moved from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this year in a blockbuster deal that reshaped the Western Conference. Drawing on his own experience, Griffin compared Doncic’s transition to his own in 2018, when he was unexpectedly signed to Detroit midway through the season despite recently signing a five-year, $171 million deal with the Clippers.

Williams, who played with Griffin during the 2017-18 season before the trade, disputed Griffin’s comments by recalling a perceived cold huddle following the trade.

“I don’t know, Blake,” Williams interjected. “I don’t remember you talking to me when you first came back to LA. I don’t think you showed much love when you first came back.”

Griffin appeared momentarily taken aback, asking, “Is he back in LA or Detroit?”

Williams clarified, “No, when you came back to LA to play.”

The exchange drew laughs from the Run It Back panel, but also highlighted how the emotions associated with Griffin’s abrupt departure from the Clippers still reverberate years later. The trade marked a major milestone for the franchise — coming just months after the Clippers declared Griffin their long-term cornerstone with an elaborate re-signing presentation that featured the phrase “Clipper for Life.”

Griffin’s Clippers legacy and past tensions with the franchise are resurfacing

During his tenure with the Clippers from 2010 to 2018, Griffin averaged 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in 504 appearances. A five-time All-Star with Los Angeles, he helped define the “Lob City” era alongside Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, turning the team into a perennial playoff contender and one of the league’s most entertaining teams.

Griffin’s relationship with Clippers ownership, particularly team president Steve Ballmer, became a focal point after his departure. During his first game in Los Angeles as a member of the Pistons, cameras caught Griffin walking past Ballmer without acknowledging him during pregame introductions, a moment that fueled speculation about the depth of his frustration with the organization.

Williams’ lighthearted but sharp commentary on Run It Back seemed to reignite those tensions, offering a rare glimpse into how trades can strain personal dynamics in NBA locker rooms. Despite the brief skirmish, both players maintained a respectful tone throughout the segment, signaling that any past grievances have largely faded with time.

The conversation underscored the human side of professional basketball, where sudden roster changes can leave emotional scars even on veteran players. For the Clippers, the Griffin trade marked the end of an era defined by playoff hopes, high-profile accomplishments and eventual heartbreak.

While Griffin’s career continued with stops in Detroit, Brooklyn and Boston before his retirement, and Williams later became one of the most celebrated sixth men in NBA history, their exchange on Run It Back served as a reminder of how personal and enduring the business side of basketball can be.