David Griffin has been busy on the media circuit. For those who have been listening, he’s dropping a lot of life advice disguised as basketball talk in his interviews.
David Griffin, the Executive Vice President of the New Orleans Pelicans, is as well-established and well-respected as any front office figure in the league. He was instrumental in building some of the most memorable teams in the NBA in this millennium, from the Seven-Seconds-or-Less Suns to the Warriors-beating World Champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
He’s also the type of podcast/radio show guest that demands your full attention. The guy has a way with words that makes any listener, New Orleans Pelicans fan or not, feel excited.
It doesn’t matter how many times I hear David Griffin talk, I’m always ready to run through a brick wall afterwards
— Caroline Gonzalez (@carolinegonzo34) July 16, 2019
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Listen long enough, and you’ll start to realize that what David Griffin is saying isn’t just basketball talk – it’s advice for dealing with just about anything in life. Professional or personal, Griffin has your back New Orleans Pelicans fans.
On Building a Vibe
"“The most important thing you can do is build something that people are attracted to. Build a family, build an environment, and stand for something.”The Herd with Colin Cowherd (July 8, 2019)"
"“I just need to build a team in such a way that greatness can show itself, and its attracted to the energy that we create.”The Woj Pod (July 10, 2019)"
The message here is pretty simple – professionally or personally, you want to surround yourself with the right energy. Be what you want to be surrounded by in your life. The New Orleans Pelicans have done so, and seem to be in a better place than ever.
On Having a Journey-Oriented Mindset
"“You view championships as a destination, like ‘if we could just achieve this, we’ll have reached the pinnacle. And the reality is, championships are not a destination, they’re a state of mind. It’s building a championship organization.”The Woj Pod (July 10, 2019)"
Anyone who has made it to the peak (which David Griffin has) will tell you – once you’re there, you’re usually still left wanting. You can’t make your life about getting to a goal, it’s about enjoying your path there and building something sustainable.
On Being a Hype Man/Woman
"“He’s a stone cold killer… I look at Jrue very much in the way I might have looked at (2x NBA MVP) Steve Nash… When I sat with him and we talked about it, there was a very visceral reaction on his part… and I knew we were making the right decision from that point on.”The Full 48 with Howard Beck (July 16, 2019)"
"“I really challenged Jrue. I said you can be the most underrated guard in the league for as long as you want to be, but I would rather see you be MVP.“He’s a killer. He’s a grown man who knows how to win.”“Sometimes, you need to be given permission to dominate people.”SiriusXM NBA Radio (July 9, 2019)"
Sometimes, even the most confident of friends need to be reminded of how great they are. We all need a hype man in our corner from time to time. The New Orleans Pelicans have had their praises sung in every media session David Griffin attended.
Regarding the Search to Find the Right Work Environment
"“The appeal of the big city isn’t what it’s about. It’s about community, it’s about the people that you’re with every day.”The Woj Pod, July 10, 2019"
"“It’s all about finding the owner that you can be in lockstep with, so I feel blessed.The Full 48 with Howard Beck (July 16, 2019)"
Just because an individual can make more money, or be in a flashier city, doesn’t mean it’s the right fit. Finding a job that aligns with one’s values, and what one thinks is important enough to hold dear as a core value, will make them far happier.
The New Orleans Pelicans sure are smiling more often going into next season. Following Griffin’s lead led to a better place.
On Knowing When to Walk Away from a Relationship
"“You’re either all the way in, or all the way out. It was very clear to us that he was not all the way in, basically throughout the summer…. We recognized it was time to move on and we tried to create the best opportunity for ourselves that we could.”The Herd with Colin Cowherd (July 8, 2019)"
"“I think ultimately it was clear he was not all in on us… and I think that it was just time for him to get a fresh start, and I think we felt the same way quite frankly.”The Woj Pod (July 10, 2019)"
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just know it’s over and walk away.
On Adjusting to Things Beyond Your Control
"“Frankly, you just have to get comfortable in your lack of comfort, because you’re never going to control the noise.”The Herd with Colin Cowherd (July 8, 2019)"
File this one right next to “grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.”
On Striving to Improve
"“We’re not going to limit what our expectations are. If we can be very good, we intend to be.”SiriusXM NBA Radio (July 9, 2019)"
"“There’s no reason to limit the scope of what you’re trying to do in your life. It doesn’t make any sense.”Pelicans Press Conference (July 16, 2019)"
On Believing in Yourself
Perhaps more than anything else, hearing David Griffin talk about the power of belief is one of the most motivating things in the world, especially for the New Orleans Pelicans organization. Cut all these snippets out and play them on a loop until you’re ready to ask for that raise, that promotion, or even that date.
In short notice New Orleans Pelicans fans begin pondering the all-encompassing question: Why not us?
"“There’s no reason in the world any of us should limit what we dream of…. You can’t dream big enough. I want everybody’s approach to be ‘why not us?’ There’s no reason we can’t achieve everything we want to achieve.”“The only reason I’m sitting here is I believe you can speak it into existence, and you can dedicate yourself to that which you believe in.”Pelicans Press Conference (July 16, 2019)"
"“What makes you take the next step is just your vision of self.”SiriusXM NBA Radio (July 9, 2019)"
"“You just have to see it, and so we very intently started to visualize winning, and we started to connect to that energy and that feeling…. You can really change your vision of yourself and your circumstance, simply be believing in it.”The Woj Pod (July 10, 2019)"
"“I’ve said this before: you can’t dream big enough.”The Full 48 with Howard Beck (July 16, 2019)"
So… where’s that wall to run through? The New Orleans Pelicans and David Griffin are gaining loyal followers.
David Griffin has the New Orleans Pelicans set up for a championship future in the post Anthony Davis era. New Orleans Pelicans fans that heed Griffin’s advice might find their life’s future just as bright.