Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Blake Griffin

Discover the career path of Blake Griffin, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Blake Griffin is a retired American professional basketball player, most notably with the Los Angeles Clippers. After a celebrated college career at Oklahoma, where he was named national player of the year, Griffin was drafted first overall by the Clippers in 2009. He became a six-time NBA All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection while playing for the Clippers. Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons in 2018, then signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021 and the Boston Celtics in 2022 before retiring in 2023.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1996: Allen Iverson's Feat

In the 1996-97 NBA season, Allen Iverson achieved a feat that Blake Griffin later matched, becoming the first rookie to have two 40+ point games.

1998: Duncan All-Star selection

In 1998, Tim Duncan was voted to the All-Star game by coaches as a rookie. Blake Griffin became the first rookie voted to the game by coaches since Tim Duncan in 1998.

2003: Rookie All-Star Game

In 2003, Yao Ming played in the All-Star Game as a rookie. Blake Griffin became the first rookie to play in the All-Star game since Yao Ming in 2003.

2006: Playoff Appearance

In 2006, the Los Angeles Clippers made the playoffs for the first time. In 2012, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul helped the Clippers make the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

April 7, 2009: Declared for NBA Draft

On April 7, 2009, Blake Griffin announced that he would forgo his final two years of college eligibility and declared for the NBA draft after his sophomore year.

2009: Drafted by Clippers and Injury

In 2009, Blake Griffin was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers. During the final pre-season game of 2009, he broke his left kneecap and had surgery, which caused him to miss the entire 2009-10 season.

2009: NBA Draft and Clippers

In 2009, Blake Griffin was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA draft.

November 11, 2010: Career High Points

On November 11, 2010, Blake Griffin scored a then career-high 44 points against the New York Knicks.

2010: Fundraiser and charity auction

In 2010, Blake Griffin started a fundraiser called "Dunking for Dollars", donating $100 per dunk to fight childhood obesity. The Kia sedan he jumped over in the Slam Dunk Contest was auctioned on AutoTrader.com to benefit Stand Up to Cancer.

January 17, 2011: Career High Record

On January 17, 2011, Blake Griffin scored a career-high 47 points against the Indiana Pacers and set a Clippers franchise record for most points by a rookie.

March 23, 2011: First Triple-Double

On March 23, 2011, Blake Griffin recorded his first career triple-double with 33 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists in a double-overtime win against the Washington Wizards.

2011: Signing with Panini America and endorsements

In 2011, Panini America signed Blake Griffin to an exclusive long-term deal. Griffin was on the cover of NCAA Basketball 10 and NBA 2K13 and appeared in commercials for Kia Motors, Subway, Vizio, and GameFly.

July 10, 2012: Contract Extension

On July 10, 2012, Blake Griffin signed a contract extension worth $95 million for 5 years with the Los Angeles Clippers.

2012: Playoffs and All-NBA Selection

In 2012, Blake Griffin helped lead the Los Angeles Clippers to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. He was also named to the All-NBA Second Team for the first time in his career.

2012: NBA All-Star Game Starter

In 2012, Blake Griffin was voted to play as a starter for the first time in the NBA All-Star Game, alongside his teammate Chris Paul.

2012: Pacific Division Title and All-NBA

In 2012-13, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 56-26 record, winning their first Pacific Division title in franchise history. Griffin was also named to the All-NBA Second Team once again.

March 6, 2013: Triple-Double

On March 6, 2013, Blake Griffin recorded his third career triple-double, scoring 23 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out 11 assists in a victory against the Milwaukee Bucks.

April 2, 2014: Clippers Clinch Division Title

On April 2, 2014, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 112–108 win over the Phoenix Suns, clinching their second franchise division title.

April 21, 2014: Griffin Scores Playoff Career-High

On April 21, 2014, Blake Griffin scored a playoff career-high 35 points in a win over the Golden State Warriors.

December 8, 2014: Griffin's Game-Winning Buzzer Beater

On December 8, 2014, Blake Griffin scored a season-high 45 points, including a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, as the Clippers beat the Phoenix Suns in overtime 121–120, marking his first career game-winning buzzer beater.

November 25, 2015: Griffin Records Season-Highs in Loss

On November 25, 2015, Blake Griffin recorded season-highs with 40 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to the Utah Jazz.

July 2016: Hosting Just for Laughs festival

In July 2016, Blake Griffin made his comedy debut hosting the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal.

November 5, 2016: Griffin Scores Season-High in Win Over Spurs

On November 5, 2016, Blake Griffin scored a season-high 28 points in a 116–92 win over the San Antonio Spurs, helping the Clippers start the season 5–1.

2016: Acting debut in Broad City

In 2016, Blake Griffin made his acting debut in the Broad City episode "B&B-NYC". He also appeared in The Female Brain.

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January 24, 2017: Griffin Returns After Knee Surgery

On January 24, 2017, Blake Griffin returned to action, scoring 12 points in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, after recovering from knee surgery.

February 26, 2017: Griffin Sets New Season High

On February 26, 2017, Blake Griffin set a new season high with 43 points in a 124–121 overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets.

July 19, 2017: Griffin Re-Signs with Clippers

On July 19, 2017, Blake Griffin re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers to a five-year, $173 million contract.

November 22, 2017: Griffin Helps Clippers Snap Losing Streak

On November 22, 2017, Blake Griffin had 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over the Atlanta Hawks, helping the Clippers end a nine-game losing streak.

2017: Contract details

In July 10, 2012, Blake Griffin signed a contract extension reportedly worth $95 million for 5 years. The deal would keep him under contract until the end of the 2017–18 season

January 2018: Trade to Detroit Pistons

In January 2018, Blake Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons from the Los Angeles Clippers.

January 22, 2018: Griffin Records Triple-Double

On January 22, 2018, Blake Griffin recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 12 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

January 29, 2018: Griffin Traded to Detroit Pistons

On January 29, 2018, Blake Griffin, along with Willie Reed and Brice Johnson, was traded to the Detroit Pistons.

March 20, 2018: Griffin Has Near Triple-Double in Win

On March 20, 2018, Blake Griffin had a near triple-double with 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in a 115–88 win over the Phoenix Suns.

October 23, 2018: Griffin Scores Career-High 50 Points

On October 23, 2018, Blake Griffin scored a career-high 50 points, including the game-winning free throw, in an overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

2019: Appearance in Comedy Central Roast

In 2019, Blake Griffin appeared as a roaster in the Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin.

March 13, 2020: Pledge to Little Caesars Arena staff

On March 13, 2020, Blake Griffin pledged to give $100,000 to the staff of the Little Caesars Arena who were unable to work during the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season because of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

October 1, 2020: Blake Griffin to host Double Cross with Blake Griffin

On October 1, 2020, it was announced that Blake Griffin would host and present Double Cross with Blake Griffin, a hidden camera television series.

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2020: Appearance on The Eric Andre Show

In 2020, Blake Griffin appeared on the 10th episode of season 5 of The Eric Andre Show alongside Stormy Daniels.

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February 15, 2021: Griffin Plays Last Game for Pistons

On February 15, 2021, Blake Griffin played his last game for the Detroit Pistons as he sought a trade or buyout.

March 8, 2021: Griffin Signs with Brooklyn Nets

On March 8, 2021, Blake Griffin signed with the Brooklyn Nets.

March 2021: Signed with Brooklyn Nets

In March 2021, Blake Griffin signed with the Brooklyn Nets.

March 19, 2021: Double Cross with Blake Griffin premiered on TruTV

On March 19, 2021, Double Cross with Blake Griffin premiered on TruTV.

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August 9, 2021: Griffin Re-Signs with Nets

On August 9, 2021, Blake Griffin re-signed with the Brooklyn Nets on a one-year deal.

February 6, 2022: Griffin Scores Season-High

On February 6, 2022, Blake Griffin scored a season-high 19 points in a loss to the Denver Nuggets.

September 2022: Signed with Boston Celtics

In September 2022, Blake Griffin signed with the Boston Celtics.

September 30, 2022: Griffin Signs with Boston Celtics

On September 30, 2022, Blake Griffin signed a 1-year deal with the Boston Celtics for the veteran's minimum salary and chose jersey number 91 in honor of Dennis Rodman.

2023: Retirement

In 2023, Blake Griffin retired from professional basketball after playing with the Boston Celtics.

April 16, 2024: Griffin Announces Retirement

On April 16, 2024, Blake Griffin officially announced his retirement from professional basketball.

2025: Voice acting in The Simpsons

In 2025, Blake Griffin, Andrew Luck, and Megan Rapinoe voiced themselves in The Simpsons's "Full Heart, Empty Pool", as a trio of retired athletes competing in Homer Simpson's "noodleball" tournament.

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2025: Panelist on NBA on Prime Video

Starting with the 2025–26 season, Blake Griffin became a panelist on NBA on Prime Video's studio coverage, along with Taylor Rooks, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Udonis Haslem.