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Coming into the league, there was already a significant buzz around Blake Griffin, thanks to his dominant two-year run at the University of Oklahoma. Standing at 6’9″, he did have the physical attributes, but what stood out most was his athleticism and explosive style of playing. The 2009 National College Player of the Year had built an impressive resume even before his NBA debut.
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No surprises, he would turn out to be the first pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, with the Los Angeles Clippers viewing him as the potential future face of the franchise. Unfortunately, a stress fracture in his left knee would delay his much-anticipated debut by a year. Nonetheless, he would make up for the lost time, putting together one of the most impressive rookie seasons.
2011 NBA Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin
Taking the league by storm from the get-go, Griffin was among the handful of NBA players to have ever made the All-Star Game in their debut season. In addition, he was also crowned the Slam Dunk Contest winner after enthralling the audience with his high-flying abilities over a 2011 KIA Optima. His emerging popularity and box-office appeal had people viewing him as a superstar in the making, with brand endorsements, red-carpet events, and interviews lining up.
Blake Griffin Jumps Over a Car
On the other hand, the newfound fame and spotlight had overwhelmed Griffin, who had until now led a very low-key, quiet life. Born in Oklahoma City, the former Clippers star grew up in a modest household, with both his parents being in the teaching profession. Living a simple life, Blake was not used to the sudden attention, something that did not interest him.
“I miss my family and friends the most … Also, I miss being just a regular guy, the relative anonymity that being from Oklahoma City brings … I’ll never change who I am. ‘Celebrity’ is really not who I am. That does not motivate me at all. Wanting to be the best player that I can be and help my team win games is all the motivation I need,”stated Griffin amid his rookie season.
L.A. began to grow on him
Initially finding it hard to deal with the glitz and glamor of living in Los Angeles, Blake would eventually not only take to it but also embrace it. This was evident in guest appearances on television series such as Broad City and Kidding, as well as in the remake of the comedy film White Men Can’t Jump. The former Clippers star also entered the field of production, co-founding Mortal Media alongside NFL lineman Ryan Kalil. Not to mention that he occasionally enjoys stand-up comedy and also appears on several talk shows and in comedy sketches.
Random Object Shootout with Ice Cube and Blake Griffin
Griffin also had a couple of high-profile relationships, reportedly including a relationship with American model and media personality Kendall Jenner. He was also linked to sports reporter and television anchor Brooke Fletcher. Apart from that, he has two children with his ex-fiancé, Brynn Cameron, who also had a notable collegiate basketball career.
“I love being in L.A. I kind of made this home. I played my first nine years here, so it just became home by default. I love it out here. I got a great group of friends. My kids are in school out here, so it’s great,”said Griffin, who has been spending a lot of his time playing golf after announcing his retirement in 2024.
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Making the 2026 Hall of Fame finalists
Griffin did have a notable career playing 13 seasons in the NBA, but one could argue that he never reached his true ceiling. While his stint during the Lob City era made for must-see television, it never translated into winning basketball, as he never made it past the semifinals in his career. In addition, injuries also derailed his prime to a great extent.
While being a part of the Boston Celtics squad that made the conference finals in 2023, Griffin did not play the entire playoffs, barring six minutes in Game 1 of the first round against the Atlanta Hawks. At the same time, there was a visible change in his style of play, with him relying heavily on outside shooting and becoming a playmaker.
Nevertheless, he will always remain near and dear to Clippers fans, with many hoping the organization will retire his jersey at some point. Meanwhile, Blake did make it to the official list of 2026 Hall of Fame finalists. Unfortunately, he did not make the final selection, but one can expect to see him achieve this feat in the future.
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This story was originally published August 9, 2026 at 8:11 PM.