Blake Griffin Retires After 14 Seasons In NBA
Six-time All-Star Blake Griffin announced his retirement from the game of basketball on social media Tuesday morning.
“I never really envisioned myself as the guy who would have a ‘letter to basketball’ retirement announcement,” Griffin wrote in his retirement post. “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 am equally thankful for the not-so-good-moments: the losses, the injuries, the wayyyy too many surgeries, the lessons, the heartbreaks, and it wouldn’t be (a) sports retirement letter without acknowledging the ‘haters.’ All of these experiences made my 14 years in the league truly unforgettable, and I can’t help but to just feel thankful.“
Griffin, 35, was the first overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers and spent eight seasons with the team, winning the 2011 Rookie of the Year and becoming a five-time All-Star with Los Angeles. The Clippers posted a tribute to some of Griffin’s best moments as a member of the team and congratulated him on his career.
Griffin would then be traded to the Detroit Pistons, spending three seasons with the teams and receiving another All-Star selection. The former Slam Dunk Contest would be bought out by the Pistons and sign with the Brooklyn Nets. He would go stay with the Brooklyn until the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.
Griffin last played for the Boston Celtics in the 2022-23 season after signing a one-year deal. Griffin ended his career averaging 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists per game after 14 seasons.
While Griffin didn’t end his career on a good note, he did achieve notable feats such as being a five-time All-NBA selection. With his career like his, it is debated if he can make a case for the NBA Hall of Fame.
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