Blake Griffin announced his retirement on Tuesday after a 14-year career that included six All-Star selections, a Rookie of the Year award and a dunk contest championship.
Griffin said in a social media post that he is “grateful for every moment” of his career. He was drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers out of Oklahoma State in 2009. He missed his first season with a knee injury, but came back in 2011 and won Rookie of the Year with a dunk in the All-Star Game. Contest.
Along with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, Griffin's high-flying play revitalized the Clippers franchise and earned him the nickname “Lob City.” His rapid rise diminished and he was dealt a series of injuries, leading to him being traded to the Detroit Pistons during the 2018 season.
Griffin was able to reinvent the game in Detroit with his reliable 3-point shooting, and was selected to his sixth All-Star Game in 2018-19. That season, he averaged 24.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.
Mr. Griffin, 35, also worked in Brooklyn and Boston. He averaged 19.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in his career. He finished third in MVP voting for the 2013-14 season, behind Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
Dallas Mavericks fans may remember his role during the 2015 offseason when the famous DeAndre Jordan contract was renewed.
“I'm grateful for every moment. It's not just the good things, the wins, the awards, the dunks, the memorable times I spent with my family, friends, fans, teammates, and coaches,” Griffin said in an Instagram post. expressed his gratitude. Sam Goldfeder, his family member and agent. “I'm just as grateful for the not-so-good moments: losses, injuries, too many surgeries, lessons, heartbreaks, etc. Unless I acknowledge the 'haters,' it's a retirement letter from sports.” Probably not.
“All of these experiences have made my 14 years in the league truly memorable and I can only be grateful.”
Click here for more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News.
