Do Detroit Pistons fans really hate Blake Griffin?

Blake Griffin was a popular player with fans when he was with the Detroit Pistons. Many posters, uniforms and other merchandise were bought for the only nationally recognized player the Pistons really had.

But things have apparently gone downhill since he was released in March, 2021.

Griffin was a guest on the Pardon My Take podcast and happen to come across a basketball card from the 2018-19 season, when Griffin had an All-NBA season and led the Pistons to the playoffs, the last time Detroit has made the post-season.

However, it is not with fond memories that Griffin spoke about the fans in the the Motor City on the show.

Well, that was an interesting statement.

Now, when Griffin returned with the Brooklyn Nets, things got a bit testy, as Griffin and former teammate Isaiah Stewart getting into a bit of a confrontation. The fact Griffin dunked in the game, something that he had not done in a Pistons uniform for over a year, raised the ire of some Detroit fans.

Griffin played well for the Nets. He eventually displaced DeAndre Jordan (who became a Piston for an hour recently) as the team’s starting center.

Griffin simply played better with Brooklyn than he did with Detroit. Besides the lack of dunking, Griffin this past season with Detroit was chucking up a lot of three-pointers, even when he had a mismatch that, in the past, he would have taken down low and scored or been fouled.

Of Griffin’s shots with Detroit, 56-percent were three-pointers. That percentage went down to 43-percent with Brooklyn. Yes, the Nets have a lot of good three-point shooters like James Harden, Kevin Durant and Joe Harris, but Detroit had guys who were better at threes than Griffin, like Wayne Ellington, Jerami Grant and Saddiq Bey.

The point was, Griffin made just 31.5% of his three-point attempts with the Pistons, a very low percentage shot. But, it is easier to just throw up a three then bang underneath, and less wear and tear on his body.

So some Pistons fans might think Griffin sort of mailed it in this season, waiting to be sent to a contender. But that does not take away from all the great games Griffin had for the Pistons, before injuries took him out of the lineup.

Remember, Griffin did not choose to come to Detroit. He had months earlier signed a long-term, max-contract with the Clippers before being traded in January, 2018. He also gave up $13 million as part of his buyout with the Pistons, which provided some salary cap relief.

But has the image of 2018-19 Blake Griffin, scoring 50 points to beat the Philadelphia 76ers, been wiped out by the way the marriage between Blake and Detroit ended? Is all Pistons fans remember now is how he looked so much better with the Nets this season.

Do most Pistons fans now hate Blake Griffin? He apparently thinks so, judging by his comments.

We will find out on November 5, as Brooklyn comes to Little Caesars Arena.