Blake Griffin Announces Retirement After 14-Year NBA Career

Blake Griffin made an announcement on Tuesday, April 16 2024 revealing his retirement from professional basketball following a remarkable 14-year journey in the NBA.

Throughout his illustrious career, Griffin achieved numerous accolades, including six All-Star selections, Rookie of the Year honors, and a memorable victory in the dunk contest.

In a social media post, Griffin expressed gratitude for every moment of his career, emphasizing the value of both triumphs and challenges

Selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2009 from Oklahoma, Griffin faced an early setback due to a knee injury, but quickly rebounded to claim Rookie of the Year recognition in 2011, alongside winning the All-Star Game dunk contest.

Teaming up with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, Griffin’s electrifying style of play injected new life into the Clippers franchise, earning them the moniker “Lob City.”

Despite later challenges and a trade to the Detroit Pistons in 2018, Griffin showcased resilience by evolving his game, notably developing a reliable 3-point shot.

His efforts were rewarded with a sixth All-Star appearance during the 2018-19 season, where he averaged 24.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Throughout his career, Griffin made impactful contributions to various teams, including stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics.

Despite sitting out the 2023-24 season, his former Celtics teammates harbored hopes of his return, underscoring the positive impact he had on the team’s culture and camaraderie.

Former coach Joe Mazzulla lauded Griffin’s dedication and humility, highlighting a memorable moment when Griffin sought guidance on improving his game.

With career averages of 19.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, Griffin’s impact on the court was undeniable, earning him a third-place finish in MVP voting during the 2013-14 season.

In his Instagram retirement announcement, Griffin expressed profound gratitude to his family, fans, teammates, coaches, and agents, acknowledging the entirety of his NBA journey, marked by both triumphs and tribulations.

“I’m thankful for every single moment — not just the good ones: the wins, the awards, the dunks, and the memorable times spent with family, friends, fans, teammates and coaches,” Griffin said in his Instagram post, thanking his family and agent, Sam Goldfeder. “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 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 just feel thankful.”