It’s time for Blake Griffin. After fourteen years in the NBA, he retires. He published a post on X Tuesday with just one word – “Fin,” which means “end” in French – and an image with the words that would conclude his NBA career.
“I never pictured myself as the guy who would have a ‘letter to basketball’ retirement announcement… and I still won’t be that guy,” Griffin said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “But when I thought about my career, I kept coming back to the one feeling and the one thing I wanted to express was gratitude.”.“
Griffin, 35, spent more than half his career with the Los Angeles Clippers, but also spent more than three years with the Detroit Pistons, two with the Brooklyn Nets and one season with the Boston Celtics. Griffin spent the 2023-2024 NBA season as a free agent.
Many of the comments on his retirement post recognized Griffin as a Lob City legend, thanks to the seven-plus seasons he spent with the Clippers from 2009 to 2018. Griffin, along with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, were part of a Clippers renaissance that earned them the nickname Lob City for the style and swagger they displayed on the court. Griffin’s prodigious dunking skills are one of the reasons the Clips went from laughing stock to must-see TV.
But Griffin’s career was marred by injuries and surgeries, which he discussed in his retirement post.
“I’m just as grateful for the not-so-good moments: the losses, the injuries, the way too many surgeries, the lessons, the heartbreak, and it wouldn’t be a sports retirement letter without acknowledging the ‘haters.’ All of these experiences have made my fourteen years in the league truly unforgettable, and I can’t help but be grateful.”
In fact, Griffin’s professional career started with an injury. While he played in 13 NBA seasons, he had spent 14 seasons in the NBA. After being drafted first overall by the Clippers in 2009, Griffin fractured his kneecap during the team’s final preseason game and ultimately missed the entire 2009–10 season. But he was worth the wait. He had a dynamite freshman season, averaging 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game on 51% shooting en route to winning the Rookie of the Year award.
Despite the injuries and surgeries, Griffin was often sensational and continued to adapt, change and grow wherever he went. He finishes his career averaging 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, having been to the All-Star Game six times and being named All-NBA five times.
“The game of basketball has given me so much in this life, and I wouldn’t change a thing,” Griffin wrote in closing his post. “Last but certainly not least, here comes the obligatory ‘I’m excited for my next chapter’ part – just kidding, I’m ready.”
