Sights and Sounds of the LA Clippers’ Training Camp Opening Day

Catch up on what you missed from day one of the LA Clippers’ 17-18 training camp at the University of Hawaii.

The LA Clippers’ training camp officially tipped off on Tuesday, as the team flew to Hawaii after its media day, hungry to get to work. The team will be practicing on the campus of the University of Hawaii at the Stan Sheriff Center, pictured below.

Despite rumors over the summer suggesting his once-injured foot would not be fully healed by the start of the season, Blake Griffin laced up for the first day of training camp and was a full participant.

The training camp roster, down to nineteen players after the Clippers traded away DeAndre Liggins to get under the luxury tax, returns only five players from last years’ squad. Training camp will be a valuable time for these players to learn each other’s styles of play and learn to play alongside one another.

After losing Chris Paul, Raymond Felton, and Jamal Crawford this offseason, the Clippers’ signed highly toted Euro-League veteran Milos Teodosic to bolster their depth at the guard position. Teodosic, who will likely start the season as the team’s backup point guard, will have to adjust to the fast-paced play and different rules/regulations of the NBA but shows no trouble knocking down jumpers from the extended three-point line below.

With so many new faces on the Clippers this year, the team will look to Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to be the leaders of the Clips both on and off of the floor. In the short clip below, Griffin puts up a light hook shot and appears to land without any pain or limp which is a good sign. Jordan shows on a quick one-dribble move that the center may put to use this season with a slightly increased offensive load.

After being sidelined for five weeks this summer with an undisclosed illness, Austin Rivers looks healthy and ready to flourish as the Clippers’ starting shooting guard. In the clip below, Rivers shows off his much improved three-point jumper while shooting opposite of LAC forwards Sam Dekker and Danilo Gallinari and alongside Teodosic.

The host team, the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Men’s basketball team, took in the Clippers’ opening day of training camp from the stands. Also in the picture are Ralph Lawler, looking ready to cover the Clips for another season in what looks to be a Hawaiian shirt, and newly hired Bruce Bowen, who will be replacing Michael Smith next to Lawler in the booth this season, talking with Clippers’ president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank on the right side of the photograph.

The new look Clippers getting some half-court work in as what appears to be the starting lineup/A-team (comprised of Beverley, Rivers, Gallo, Griffin, and Jordan) has the dark black pinnies on and the bench/B-team has the lighter pinnies with Teodosic, Williams, and Reed (maybe Wesley Johnson too in the opposite corner being guarded by Gallo?) pictured from that team.

New Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley, who has already begun charming LAC fans with his off-season demeanor, was locked in at camp. Beverley is expected to start alongside Austin Rivers in the Clippers’ backcourt this season.

The Logo made an appearance at day one of the Clippers’ training camp, giving new LAC forward Sam Dekker some pointers.

West joined the Clippers as a special advisor earlier in the year and brings championship experience to the LAC front office.

It looks to be a season full of excitement for this revamped LA Clippers team. Make sure to stay tuned as we keep you updated on training camp and the team’s first preseason game against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, October 1.