MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (AP) — There’s no panic in Blake Griffin, whether it’s holding out with his fellow NBA players for a better labor deal or posing nearly nude in a national magazine.

Griffin doesn’t think the players will flinch even as the league’s lockout threatens the start of the season next month. He didn’t blink when given his choice of a white, black or leopard thong to don for the photo shoot.

ESPN The Magazine’s annual Body Issue hits newsstands on Friday with Griffin fronting one of the four covers. Soccer player Hope Solo, New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes and Olympic snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler are on the others.

For the record, Griffin chose the white thong, not that it’s visible in the photos. He described the experience as “uncomfortable at first.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.