Blake Griffin was a fantastic player during his rookie year, but he still had a “Welcome to the NBA” moment. It stuck with him, as it involved two-time MVP and five-time NBA champion Tim Duncan.
As the number one pick from the 2009 Draft, Blake Griffin was already one of the most exciting players. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury that took him out for the entirety of the 2009-10 season. That meant he had to stay on the sidelines for a year, which helped him acclimate to the league.
He was still considered a rookie during the 2010-11 season. During his fourth-ever NBA game, Griffin got his first encounter with Tim Duncan. At the time, Duncan was already a legendary player, having won two MVPs and four championships. Many consider him one of the 10 greatest NBA players.
That reputation led Griffin to feel a bit starstruck. The moment he saw Duncan warming up for a game against the Los Angeles Clippers is what Griffin considers his “Welcome to the NBA” moment.
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts/Getty ImagesDuncan was an amazing figurehead for power forwards
Griffin immediately became one of the league’s best power forwards during his rookie season. He averaged 22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. It was one of the most impressive rookie seasons by any player. It was reminiscent of Duncan’s averages, which were 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game.
While Griffin was never the defensive powerhouse like Duncan, he was inspired by him. Most power forwards look up to Duncan, as he is arguably the best player to ever play in that position. Even older players like Pau Gasol looked up to Duncan and his game.
“This was like pregame, you know, early, when you have your shooting time. I’m warming up, make a shot, and I turn around. I look to the other end. Glance down there, and Tim Duncan’s doing his bank shot,” Griffin said on Post Moves with Candace Parker & Alliyah Boston.
“I kind of stopped. My coach had to be like, ‘Blake, what are you doing?’ I stopped, and I was watching him, and that’s one of those moments where it really hits you. That you’re about to play against a living legend.”
“Later that game, I remember he kind of made this joke. It was like a free-throw box out, and he’s on the block. I’m next to him, and he kind of bent over, looks over, rolled his eyes, and goes, ‘Not you again.’ I was like, ‘That was awesome. Tim Duncan just joked with me on the free-throw line!’”
Griffin ended up being an iconic player
Griffin developed into one of the league’s best players. He was iconic for the Clippers, cementing himself as one of the franchise’s all-time greats. He and Chris Paul became a dynamic duo who were respected across the NBA. There were even calls about a potential reunion when Paul returned to the Clippers in 2025.
“That clippers team is the thing I’ll miss the most”
“A lot of ppl tried to make it like me and cp didn’t like each other and that wasn’t the case at all” – blake griffin pic.twitter.com/4nKRQYW6tP
— Jamal Cristopher (@JamCristopher) August 22, 2025
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Unfortunately, Griffin already retired in 2024, so there is no chance of that happening. During his 13-season career, Griffin was a fantastic player. He dropped off in the later years, but he was the prototypical versatile power forward whom teams love today.
While he is not Duncan, he was still an icon for his team. Griffin deserves recognition, and thankfully, he is regularly receiving it. With six All-Star Game appearances and five All-NBA nods, Griffin was a star. NBA fans will also become more familiar with him again, as he is part of Prime Video’s NBA coverage.