Blake Griffin announces retirement from NBA after 14 years

Six-time All-Star ahead Blake Griffin introduced his retirement from the NBA on Tuesday.

Griffin was chosen first general by the LA Clippers out of Oklahoma within the 2009 draft. His time in Los Angeles received off to a tough begin, as he broke the patella in his left knee through the preseason.

Griffin got here again the next season and received the 2010-11 Rookie of the Yr Award and made the primary of 5 straight All-Star appearances. He additionally received the Slam Dunk Contest that season after slamming over a parked automotive.

His high-flying highlights turned the calling card of the Clippers, who actually took off within the 2011-12 season with the addition of level guard Chris Paul.

The acquisition of Paul and his penchant for alley-oop passes to Griffin and middle DeAndre Jordan remodeled the Clippers into Lob Metropolis, and ushered in probably the most profitable period in franchise historical past.

“Blake was an enormous a part of the turnaround right here,” mentioned Tyronn Lue, the present Clippers coach who was an assistant on the employees early in Griffin’s L.A. profession. “Blake was some of the dynamic gamers we have seen on this league for a very long time so far as athletic-wise. One factor he does not get credit score for is his passing skill. He had an amazing profession.”

Playoff success eluded the Clippers, nevertheless, and Griffin was surprisingly traded to the Detroit Pistons through the 2018 season, simply months after signing a five-year, $171 million extension with the Clippers.

Griffin, 35, spent components of the following 4 seasons in Detroit earlier than being purchased out through the 2020-21 season and signing with the Brooklyn Nets. He performed final season for the Boston Celtics however averaged a career-low 4.1 factors, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists whereas showing in 41 video games in a largely reserve function.

Regardless of the ups and downs of his profession, Griffin repeatedly mentioned in his Instagram publish that he was grateful for his NBA life.

“All of those experiences made my 14 years within the league actually unforgettable and I can not assist however to simply really feel grateful,” Griffin mentioned.

Griffin’s greatest season was the 2013-14 marketing campaign, when he averaged 24.1 factors, 9.5 rebounds and three.9 assists, and completed third in MVP voting behind Kevin Durant and LeBron James.

For his profession, Griffin averaged 19.0 factors, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He was named second-team All-NBA 3 times and third-team All-NBA twice.