Clippers rookie forward Blake Griffin will begin his NBA career as a reserve.

Los Angeles coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. said on Monday that the team will leave last season's starting five intact -- Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby -- with the first overall pick coming off the bench.

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

The former Oklahoma star added that he doesn't put any weight into the so-called Clippers Curse. The team has just two winning seasons in the last 30 years and just one playoff appearance since 1997.

"I did some research on my own and there's not enough evidence for me to believe," Griffin told the media with a smile.