School Never Ends for Bibby

If Vancouver point guard Mike Bibby had remained in college, he would be starting his senior season with the Arizona Wildcats. Bibby, however, left for the NBA after his sophomore season and said he doesn’t have any regrets.

“Most people go to school to be something. Be a doctor or whatever, I went to school to be a basketball player,” said Bibby, who had 10 points, six assists and five rebounds in the Grizzlies’ 109-89 victory over the Clippers on Sunday. “I wanted to leave as soon as possible for my family’s sake and my sake.”

Bibby, who has a 2-year old daughter, could have been a Clipper but the team passed on him in the 1998 draft to select center Michael Olowokandi. Vancouver, with the second overall pick, chose Bibby.

“I don’t even care about that. [The Clippers] made the decision they wanted to and I can’t do anything about that,” Bibby said. “I really like it up here. Vancouver is a nice place and we have a good young up-and-coming team.”

Since Day 1 with Vancouver, Bibby has been the team’s point guard, starting 56 consecutive games. Last season, he averaged 13.1 points, shot 43.6% from the floor and led all rookies in assists (6.5 per game).

This season, Bibby’s scoring has dropped to 12 points per game but his assists (8.2) and shooting average (51%) are up. However, he’s also averaging 2.9 turnovers.

“I know I can do better,” Bibby said. “I have to start games with more energy. The team feeds off me. I understand what I have to do.”

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Clipper point guard Eric Murdock, who had been sidelined because of a sore right knee, played for the first time since the second game of the season and had two points and three assists in 18 minutes. . . . Shooting guard Eric Piatkowski did not suit up because of bruised ribs, but he might play before the Clippers’ five-game trip is completed. . . . The Clippers continue to shoot poorly from three-point range. They were only three for 13 against Vancouver. The Clippers are 21 for 72 overall on three-point attempts.