Former All-Star, Rookie of Year winner Blake Griffin announces retirement
Check out 10 fantastic plays from Blake Griffin's career.
Former six-time NBA All-Star and Kia Rookie of the Year winner Blake Griffin has announced his retirement. Griffin played 14 seasons in the NBA and made five All-NBA teams, rising to fame with the LA Clippers of the early 2010s in their “Lob City” era.
Per a posting on social media, Griffin wrote: “I never envisioned myself as the guy who would have a ‘letter to basketball’ retirement announcement … and I’m still not going to be that guy. But as I reflected on my career, the one feeling I kept coming back to and the one thing I wanted to express was thankfulness.
“I have to acknowledge my parents, Tommy and Gail, and my brother, Taylor, for their unconditional support and guidance. … The game of basketball has given me so much in this life, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Fin pic.twitter.com/OCFAuAt0sl
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin23) April 16, 2024
Griffin last played in the NBA in 2022-23, logging 41 games with the Boston Celtics as a reserve while averaging 4.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 41 games. Those were the lowest season averages in his career as Griffin posted career averages of 19 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg and shot 49.3% in his time in the league, dazzling fans with astounding dunks during his prime with the Clippers.
Griffin’s career: The No. 1 pick of the 2009 draft, Griffin wasn’t able to participate in 2009-10 as a knee injury sidelined him. However, he made a quick impact in the league the following season, posting 22.5 ppg, 12.1 rpg and 3.8 apg to claim Rookie of the Year honors, becoming the first player to do so unanimously since David Robinson in 1989-90.
In 2010-11, Grififn was an All-Star and won the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star weekend by dunking over a car. In the 2013-14 season, he finished third in MVP voting behind Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
Griffin spent the bulk of his NBA career with the Clippers playing for them from 2010-18, when he was dealt to the Detroit Pistons. During his time with the Clippers, he posted 21.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg and 4.2 apg, making the All-NBA Second Team three times (2012-14) and the All-NBA Third Team in 2015 before repeating that honor with the Pistons in 2019.
When the Clippers traded for point guard Chris Paul in 2011, a new era was born in LA as “Lob City” took flight. Griffin, center DeAndre Jordan and a cast of lively characters helped the Clippers rise to contender status in the Western Conference. However, playoff success eluded Griffin and the Clippers as that group never reached the Western Conference Finals. In January 2018, Griffin was dealt to the Pistons in a surprising trade that brought Tobias Harris and Boban Marjanovic to LA.
After less than three seasons with the Pistons, Griffin was bought out by the team and waived. He eventually signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021 and spent 1 1/2 seasons there before signing with the Celtics.
Overall, Griffin ranks as the No. 2 scorer in Clippers history (10,863) and ranks in the team’s Top 10 in games played, assists, steals, rebounds, field goals made and free throws made.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
