The relationship between Chris Paul and Blake Griffin was 'weird', says Austin Rivers

For years and years, there was speculation. It became more intense with each and every playoff defeat. Every year reports would fly around the internet that there was friction between Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the two best players on the Clippers from 2011-17, and the two players most responsible for the franchises renaissance.

Over years many Clipper plays have responded, saying such reports that the relationship between the two star players had deteriorated were overblown. However, Clippers combo-guard Austin Rivers recently shed more light on what the relationship was like.

Per Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated,

“The dynamic with Blake and Chris was weird,” said Austin Rivers. “I don’t know why. It was just strange. No one knew who the leader was, and if you had something to say, it would turn into an argument. I think people were sometimes scared to say something to Blake, because you didn’t know how he’d react.”

This may come as surprising news to many fans. On the court, there never seemed to be any overt tension between the two superstars so perhaps the arguments Rivers is referring to were strictly locker room issues. Regardless, with the departure of CP3 the leadership duties of the Clippers have clearly been handed over to Blake Griffin so there is no question whose team it is now. With leadership duties being clarified, it's up to Blake to prove that he should have always been the true leader of the LA Clippers.