LOS ANGELES — Blake Griffin is looking forward to helping the Los Angeles Clippers become a playoff team.

"It's been a long time waiting for this," he said yesterday. "I'm ready to get going."

The No. 1 pick in the NBA draft joined his teammates at Staples Center for media day, which began with a glitch. Power within several blocks of the arena went out, cutting the lights shortly before the players took the court. Backup power eventually kicked in, allowing a small group of fans to meet and greet the rookie forward.

Griffin comes to a team that has had two winning seasons in the last 30 years — they were 19-63 last season amid a slew of injuries — and just one playoff appearance since 1997.

Still, Griffin doesn't believe in a so-called Clippers Curse.

"I did some research on my own and there's not enough evidence for me to believe," he said, smiling.

Coach Mike Dunleavy said Griffin will open training camp on the bench, with last season's starters — Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton and Chris Kaman — retaining their spots.

"If I have to come off the bench, I'm perfectly happy with that," Griffin said.

He was the consensus college player of the year at Oklahoma after leading the nation with 14.4 rebounds per game while averaging 22.7 points last season for the Sooners.

Dunleavy liked what he saw from Griffin, who averaged 19.2 points and 10.8 rebounds in summer league play.

"He came in defensively and I don't think he missed a rotation, knew exactly where he's supposed to be and was there and was on time," the coach and general manager said.

WARRIORS

JACKSON WANTS OUT

Stephen Jackson still would like to be traded from the Golden State Warriors and is unhappy with the team's decline since reaching the second round of the 2007 playoffs to end a 13-year postseason drought.

Jackson unloaded his frustrations with the franchise during media day yesterday, reiterating public comments he made last month that he wants out so he has a more realistic chance at getting to the playoffs. The Warriors' leading scorer and top defensive player was fined $25,000 by the NBA earlier this month for saying so.

CELTICS

GARNETT RECOVERING

The wait is almost over for Kevin Garnett.

Garnett, who led the Celtics to their 17th championship in 2008 after his arrival from the Minnesota Timberwolves, suffered a right knee injury last year that led to surgery to remove bone spurs in late May. He could only sit and watch his team lose to Orlando in the second round of the playoffs.

He's back now. He's done all the rehab work, listened to what the medical people have told him and says he is playing without pain.

"I'm excited, man. I'm excited," Garnett said yesterday as the Celtics met the media before today's official opening of training camp.

"No setbacks," he said of his rehabilitation, adding he was "almost 100 percent and going forward."

ELSEWHERE

Grizzlies: Memphis' chemistry experiment with Allen Iverson is under way.

The biggest star ever to put on a Grizzlies' uniform joined his new teammates yesterday for a press session in Memphis.

The Grizzlies signed the 10-time All-Star and former league MVP in the offseason. They also traded for Zach Randolph and added three draft picks.

Cavaliers: LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal are finally wearing the same uniform.

The larger-than-life superstars, united by an offseason trade, were together yesterday as the team held a media day.

Nearly 150 media members chronicled the duo's first day together at Cleveland Clinic Courts as the Cavs prepared for a season they hope ends with an NBA title.