Blake Griffin formally announces NBA retirement

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

One of the most explosive dunkers the NBA has ever seen just called it a career after playing 13 seasons in the league.

Thank you for what you brought to the game of basketball, Blake Griffin.

Remembered for his tenacious poster dunks and several highlight reels, Griffin wrote a lengthy message on his official X account last April 17, 2024.

“The game of basketball has given me so much in this life, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Last but certainly not the least, here comes the obligatory I’m excited for my next chapter part: just kidding, I’m done,” Griffin posted.

Selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2009 Rookie Draft, Griffin failed to suit up in his first year in the NBA after being sidelined due to an injury.

A year after the medical team gave him the green light to debut in the NBA, Griffin quickly took the league by storm and cemented his name as one of the best in-game dunkers to play in the league.

After the arrival of Chris Paul and the emergence of Deandre Jordan, JJ Redick, and Jamal Crawford, the Clippers, together with Griffin, earned the moniker “Lob City” with their ability to draw fans with their athletic highlights.

Under the Clippers franchise, Griffin was able to lead them to several NBA playoff campaigns but failed to enter the final round.

After nine years playing in Los Angeles, Griffin moved to the Detroit Pistons and played there from 2018-2021. His last playing stops were then with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2021-2022 season and the Boston Celtics from 2022-2023.

Throughout his 13-year NBA playing career, Griffin was able to tally a career average of 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

Griffin will hang up his jersey as a six-time NBA All-Star, three-time All-NBA Second team, two-time All-NBA Third team, NBA Rookie of the Year, and an NBA Slam Dunk champion.