The voice of Jerry West resonated the most when Blake Griffin was deciding whether to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Griffin agreed to re-sign with the Clippers shortly before the start of free agency. 

“Jerry had a major voice to me, and he’s had an influence in coming and working on the culture here,” Griffin told The Vertical. “This franchise had unfinished business, and I had unfinished business here. We had unfinished business together and I valued that. We laid it out there that no matter what was going on around us, both sides hadn’t accomplished what we set out for.

“I couldn’t abandon this now.”

Griffin canceled his scheduled meetings and committed to a five-year, $173 million max contract.

Griffin is again the focal point of the Clippers following the departure of Chris Paul.

“I embrace the challenge,” Griffin told The Vertical. “With Chris gone, it changed our dynamic. For me, of course, I can look at it: I have the responsibility on my shoulder – all season. I have to do it. When Chris sat out, I was able to show it. I want to prove that I can sustain that style of play. Chris was one person, but we also lost J.J. [Redick], who I knew going into the free-agency process wouldn’t be back, Jamal [Crawford], who I thought we’d keep this summer but we had to move him around.

“So part of our core guys separated and that affected us. It changed the philosophy and we had to be accepting of the challenge.”