Blake Griffin, one of the top players in Oklahoma basketball history, announced his retirement from the NBA.
Tom Green
Blake Griffin, one of the greatest players in Oklahoma men's basketball history, has laced up his Jordans for the last time.
Griffin, who starred at Oklahoma from 2007-09, announced his retirement Tuesday morning, ending a professional career that spanned 14 NBA seasons that included six All-Star appearances, five All-NBA selections and the NBA Rookie of the Year award during the 2010-11 season.
"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," Griffin wrote in a statement posted to his social media channels. "But as I reflected on my career, the one feeling I kept coming back to and the one thing I 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 Goldfelder, 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?"
A native of Edmond who was a standout at Oklahoma Christian Academy, Griffin was rated as a five-star prospect and the No. 16 overall player in the 2007 class. He committed to Oklahoma and spent two seasons with the Sooners, earning All-Big 12 honors in both of his college seasons.
Griffin averaged 18.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game during his college career on Jeff Capel's teams, which included two NCAA Tournament appearances — the first ending in a second-round loss during his freshman season, the second ending in the Elite Eight during his sophom*ore campaign. That sophom*ore season was a breakout year for Griffin, who averaged 22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game while raking in accolades and leading the Sooners to a 30-win season and No. 7 ranking in the end-of-season AP poll. He was the Big 12 Player of the Year, the AP National Player of the Year, the recipient of the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award recognizing the country's top college player, and he was a consensus All-American.
Griffin declared for the NBA Draft following his sophom*ore season and was selected No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers. His NBA debut was delayed due to a kneecap injury he sustained during the preseason, and he did not see the court during the 2009-10 NBA season. His long-anticipated debut finally came the following year, when he burst onto the scene averaging 22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game as a rookie. He won Rookie of the Year and was voted an All-Star; he remains the last rookie to play in the NBA All-Star Game.
Griffin's NBA career included eight seasons with the Clippers, who became known for their high-flying offense spearheaded by Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul that earned the "Lob City" moniker during a run that included six consecutive playoff appearances from 2012-17 and a pair of division titles in 2013 and 2014. During his time with the Clippers, Griffin also won the NBA Dunk Contest in 2011, a showing that was most remembered for his dunk jumping over a Kia.
Griffin's career also included stints with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and most recently the Boston Celtics. He last played in an NBA game on April 25, 2023, playing six minutes off the bench for Boston during its opening-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks.
Griffin finishes his NBA career averaging 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists per game.
Griffin, whose No. 23 hangs in the rafters of the Lloyd Noble Center, was also a major donor for the funding of the Griffin Family Performance Center that opened adjacent to the Lloyd Noble Center in 2018 and is used by the Sooners' basketball programs for training and recovery. It includes training courts, free weights, indoor turf, outdoor turf with a sand pit, spaces for plyometric and cardiovascular training, cardio and strength testing, locker rooms, an exam and recovery area, a fueling station, a multi-purpose weight room and overhead fresh-air doors.
"Congratulations on all of your success," Oklahoma athletics director Joe Castiglione tweeted in response to Griffin's retirement announcement Tuesday. "You're a multi-talented professional that has impacted so many along your journey to date. We also share your sentiment of 'thankfulness' [and] express our gratitude for being one of the greatest Sooners ever while serving those who follow."
