Blake Griffin was a spectacle in the NBA and his smashing dunks will be remembered forever. Now the 35-year-old has decided to end his career.
Ends his active career: Blake Griffin (here with Coach Pop). Boston Globe via Getty Images
“I never imagined that I would be the one writing a letter as part of his resignation,” Blake Griffin shared on social media, and then did just that. “When I looked back on my career, there was one thing, that kept coming and I wanted to express this one thing: gratitude.”
In that letter, the power forward thanked him for every single moment of his career. Not just the good ones, also the not so good ones. “I am just as grateful for the not so good times, the defeats, the injuries, the many examinations,” said Griffin, who thanked many companions, friends and of course his family.
Griffin was selected first overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He spent the best and longest time of his career at that club (from 2009 to 2018). However, his time with the Clips didn’t start out well, as the new man broke his kneecap in preparation and was out for the entire season.
In the 2010/11 season, Griffin really took off, playing all 82 games and scoring an average of 22.5 points. During his time with the Clippers, his average points season was only below 20 once (18 points in the 2012/13 season). Unfortunately, the six-time all-star was not granted a title, but he was a player whose spectacular style of play brought fans to the hall.
Slam Dunk Champion in 2011
The power forward delighted the fans in LA with his dunks and energetic actions. He harmonized excellently with Chris Paul, but the duo was denied the really big hit. After all, the now 35-year-old was crowned Slam Dunk Champion in 2011. Admittedly little consolation, but also a sign of his great quality when dunking.
In 2018, Griffin ended his time with the Clippers and moved on to Detroit, and in 2021 he moved to Brooklyn to join the Nets. In the 2022/23 season, the big man was under contract with the Celtics, but only played 41 games. As was so often the case in his career, his body didn’t really cooperate. The highly talented basketball player was repeatedly set back by injuries. So now it’s over and Griffin, who recently didn’t have a club, ended his letter with a little joke: “Basketball has given me so much in life. At the end there are the obligatory words that I’m looking forward to the next chapter. I just kidding, I’m done…”
2024-04-16 17:02:46
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