[Wojnarowski] Six-time All-Star F Blake Griffin announced his retirement from the NBA on Instagram. Griffin – the Clippers’ No. 1 overall pick in 2009 out of Oklahoma – made second-team All-NBA three times, third-team All-NBA twice and won the 2011 Rookie of the Year award. Griffin played his final

45 comments

1. he gave us one of the first real social media argument moments in the history of the league when he dunked over the hood of that kia. twitter was awesome that day.

2. I thought he retired a year or so ago.

3. He gave all that his knees had left in 2019 against the Bucks and it was a steep decline from that point on

4. Piston Legend.

5. Blake is the type of guy who would not sniff the HoF in the other major sports but might be first ballot in the Basketball hall.

   Hell of a career though, his peak is pretty severely underrated at this point. Dude was unreal

6. I fully expect Blake to be a “McGrady” type of guy where a couple years from now the kids who never really got to see him play will stumble onto his highlights and be amazed by what he could do in his prime. A special player who was borderline top 5 in the league for a brief time.

7. Peak Blake Griffin was insane.

8. Injuries aside, he had a great career for a number one pick. He evolved his game into his later years. Sad he didn’t get to experience more playoff success. He also gave us a HOF tweet on Casey Anthony.

   https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.huffpost.com/entry/blake-griffin-casey-anthony_n_927722/amp

9. Thank you for everything Blake you were one of the most entertaining players in the 2010s

10. This is sad. Lob City Clippers were what got me into watching this sport. Glad DJ got his ring at least from that big 3.

11. I will never forget lob city

12. Streets won’t forget prime Blake and Lob City

13. Early/mid 2010s Blake griffin was special before the injuries ruined his career

14. We will always have lob city Blake. The most electrifying games I have ever been to. For a whole year every fan was tense in their seat waiting for the next insane dunk/alley oop. You could feel the buzz building each pick and roll until everyone exploded after a dunk

15. damn wow, god speed to him and lana rhodes /s

16. One of the first guys I’ve seen their career’s from hs to pros wire to wire. He’s cooked, I’m cooked

17. Celtics legend

18. “I never envisioned myself as the guy who would have a “letter to basketball” retirement announcement… and I’m still not going to be that guy. But as ! reflected on my career, the one feeling I kept coming back to and the one thing wanted to express was thankfulness.

    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. I could continue on about the people in my life who have contributed immensely to my career, but in this short non-letter, I have to acknowledge my parents, Tommy and Gail, and my brother, Taylor, for their unconditional support and guidance. Lastly, my agent Sam Goldfeder, who has been a steadfast voice of reason and my wartime consigliere-thank you.

    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 to just feel thankful.

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

    Thank you.
    Wait. Am I that guy?”

    Source: [Griffin: “fin”](https://x.com/blakegriffin23/status/1780267035995615404?s=46)

19. Wonder if Balmer retires Blake’s number next year in the new arena. Has a player worn it since?

20. This guy was an instant beast right out of the gate! And even once the injuries started to wear down his knees, he evolved his game and became a respectable shooter from outside.

    It sucks that he was robbed of a longer career but what he did in his time is still very commendable

21. This is Blake Griffin. And this is Retirement

    Happy for him. Hope he goes into TV or acting since he’s a funny dude. Check out the [Table Read of Space Jam](https://youtu.be/-VW5_45ykr0?si=FkjEYO2_Qhg3K9AY) if you haven’t.

22. Great career, one of the most entertaining players I remember watching. I think he’s a lock for the HoF, but likely not first ballot

23. He retired before chris Paul did that’s kinda wild

24. Criminally underrated. He lifted the Clippers up from zero. He gave his career and his knee to the Pistons first those few playoffs games

25. That Blake Griffin podcast gonna go hard in a few months. He’s always been a really funny dude

26. One of my all-time favorite players and a major part in why I will always root for the Clippers. His game was flashy and powerful when he entered the league, but he continued to add new skills, to develop his shot, and to find ways to contribute to winning. Hope the Clippers will not wait to retire his jersey. He put the franchise on the map.

27. Damn, Blake made everyone a fan of lob city whether you like the clips or nah

28. My childhood is dying

29. Gonna miss him with his career ended on a better note 🙁 💙

30. I hope he has a career in acting or something. He was funny as hell in those lockout skits back in 2011

31. Goodnight sweet prince

32. My username hasn’t made sense for a while, but now it’s truly outdated

33. Most satisfying ticket purchase in my life was going to see Lob City against the pistons

34. Man, remember the show Open Court?

    At once point many thought he could be the best player in the league.

    Hate that injuries cut his prime so short.

35. He was part of one of the most entertaining teams in the NBAs history. That Clippers team was always fun to watch. Lots of individual awards, but man it must be disappointing for him to have so little playoff success when he and his teams were so good.

36. Great player to watch. Wish he had more playoff success.

37. Most important Clipper of all time and it’s not even close, IMO. First non-bust first round pick in a long list of lottery picks.

    But more importantly, Blake led to being actual interest in the Clippers. Which led to better roster choices, which led to us being even a consideration for Chris Paul, which led to Lob City, which led to playoffs success, which led to people to realize the Clippers are an untapped gold mine of being in LA, which led to Vivian Stiviiano, which led to Steve Ballmer, which led us to being one of the most winning franchises of the last 10 or so years. Before Blake Griffin, the Clippers were such a joke franchise, and most considered it the worst franchise in all of SPORTS, not just basketball. Blake changed that all. Thank you Blake.

38. This guy turned the Clippers organization around. He changed them from the other team in LA to one with their own identity. Before Blake the organization had been to the playoffs 4 times in 20 years. After his rookie season they’ve missed it twice in 13 years. He was a hell of an athlete and player. One of the greatest dunkers ever. Kind of a one of a kind player with everything he was able to do. Wish he could have stayed healthy.

39. Jersey retirement and statue day one for Intuit Dome.

40. i think dudes my age (20-24) have such a connection to blake griffin because a lot of our first memories with basketball is blake griffin yamming it with the lob city clippers, before curry he and lebron were like the two defining dudes for me, like obviously KD, Kobe, Duncan were all great, but Blake was just a highlight that you were seeing every morning watching sports center before school and genuinely was one of the faces of the league till Curry

41. Blake Griffin was and always will be a massive douche bag

42. Idk why but the pre-draft video of him working out by running up and down sand dunes will forever be stuck in my mind.

    [Link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rhg10_Ptkc)

43. 1st Ballot. Early out. Love ya Blake. Only good memories. Early Blake was such a great Player. We’ll always have that Pistons run where he looked like Baby LeBron. <3

44. He had what, 10 good years? That’s a very decent career for someone who dunked a lot.

45. It was a big letdown when he didn’t repeat as ROY