Blake Griffin retires after 13 seasons in NBA: ‘I’m thankful for every single moment’

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Blake Griffin officially announced his retirement from basketball Tuesday morning, making a post on social media as he reflected on his 13-year career. Griffin posted on both Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter), where he expressed his gratitude for being able to play basketball at the highest level, while also thanking his family and agent who helped him along the way.

“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 I 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.”

Griffin was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, but didn’t play his rookie season until the following year due to a stress fracture he suffered in his knee in L.A.’s final preseason game. When Griffin returned healthy for the 2010-11 season, he immediately made an impact, averaging 22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and shooting 50.6% from the field. He earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2011 and was also named an All-Star, becoming the first rookie to earn that honor since Yao Ming did it in 2003. He was also the first rookie voted to the All-Star squad as a reserve since Tim Duncan in 1998. Griffin also won the Dunk Contest during the 2011 All-Star Weekend, showing off what would be a long career filled with otherworldly athleticism.

In the eight seasons Griffin played with the Clippers, he was an All-Star five times, earned…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/blake-griffin-retires-after-13-seasons-in-nba-im-thankful-for-every-single-moment/

Author : Jasmyn Wimbish

Publish date : 2024-04-16 16:51:11

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