Six-time All-Star forward Blake Griffin has announced his retirement from the NBA after a career spanning 14 years. Griffin, initially drafted first overall by the LA Clippers in 2009 from Oklahoma, faced an early setback when he suffered a patella injury during the preseason. Despite this, he bounced back to claim the 2010-11 Rookie of the Year Award and went on to secure five consecutive All-Star selections, including a memorable victory in the Slam Dunk Contest by leaping over a parked car.
Blake Griffin’s Career
Griffin’s tenure with the Clippers was marked by electrifying plays, particularly alongside point guard Chris Paul, which led to the team’s transformation into “Lob City.” Although the Clippers experienced regular season success, playoff triumphs remained elusive. In a surprising move, Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons in 2018, after signing a lucrative contract extension. Subsequently, he spent time with the Pistons before joining the Brooklyn Nets and later the Boston Celtics.
Despite fluctuating roles and performances towards the latter stages of his career, Griffin expressed gratitude for his NBA journey on Instagram. His most outstanding season statistically was in 2013-14, where he averaged 24.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Over his career, Griffin maintained averages of 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, earning All-NBA honors multiple times. While his retirement marks the end of an era for NBA fans, Griffin’s impact on the game, both on and off the court, is undeniably significant.
