After a successful 14-year career, Blake Griffin announced his retirement on Tuesday. Throughout his career, Griffin achieved numerous accolades, including six All-Star selections, Rookie of the Year honors, and a dunk contest victory. He expressed his gratitude for every moment of his career in a social media post.
Griffin was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2009, although he missed his first season due to a knee injury. However, he rebounded to win Rookie of the Year in 2011 and went on to become a key contributor to the Clippers, alongside teammates Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, known for their high-flying plays that energized the team and earned them the nickname “Lob City.”
Despite dealing with injuries that limited his athleticism, Griffin was able to reinvent his game during his time with the Detroit Pistons, where he developed a reliable 3-point shot and earned his sixth All-Star selection in the 2018-19 season. He also had stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics before retiring at the age of 35.
Throughout his career, Griffin averaged 19.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and finished third in MVP voting in the 2013-14 season. In his retirement post, he expressed gratitude for both the successes and challenges he faced in his career, acknowledging the support of his family, agent, fans, teammates, and coaches, as well as the lessons learned from setbacks and injuries. Griffin concluded his post by reflecting on his 14 years in the league with a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the unforgettable experiences he had.