Last Updated on September 10, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The explosion that first made Blake Griffin a household name eventually gave way to a far more layered game, as he learned to initiate offense, read double teams, and create for teammates without losing his attacking mindset. An American power forward who starred in the NBA, Griffin built his career around forceful finishes, polished ball-handling for his size, inventive passing, and the rare ability to pressure defenses from the perimeter or the paint with equal confidence.
Here’s a detailed profile of basketballer Blake Griffin:
Player Profile
- Full Name: Blake Austin Griffin
- Nationality: American
- Age: Born March 16, 1989
- Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Height: 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m)
- Weight: 250 lbs (113 kg)
- Wingspan: 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m)
- Standing Reach: 8 feet 9 inches (2.67 meters)
- Standing Vertical Leap: 32 inches (81.3 cm)
- Maximum Vertical Leap: 35.5 inches (90.2 cm)
- Shoe Size: 17 (U.S.)
- Shoe Brand: Air Jordan 37, Air Jordan 36, Air Jordan 35, Air Jordan 34, Jordan Super.Fly MVP L, Air Jordan 32, Jordan Super.Fly 2017, Jordan Super.Fly 5, Jordan Super.Fly 4, Jordan Super.Fly 3, Nike Hyperdunk 2011
- Number: 32 (Los Angeles Clippers), 23 (Detroit Pistons), 2 (Brooklyn Nets), 91 (Boston Celtics)
- Position: Power forward / Center
- High School: Oklahoma Christian School (Edmond, Oklahoma)
- Led the team to two state championships.
- College: University of Oklahoma (2007–2009)
- Named the Consensus National Player of the Year in 2009.
- NBA Draft: 2009, 1st overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers
- Professional Teams:
- Los Angeles Clippers (2009–2018)
- Detroit Pistons (2018–2021)
- Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)
- Boston Celtics (2022–2023)
- Championship Rings: None
- Kids: Has two children:
- Ford Wilson Cameron-Griffin (son)
- Finley Elaine Griffin (daughter)
- Siblings:
- Taylor Griffin: Older brother and former professional basketball player
- Retirement Age: 33 years old
- Retirement Year: 2022-23 (with Boston Celtics)
Player Archetype / Play Style
Blake Griffin’s player archetype was that of an explosive point-forward power forward, a forceful interior scorer who gradually expanded into a more versatile offensive hub as his career progressed. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Griffin paired rare leaping ability, strength, and open-floor speed with the balance to play through contact, which made him one of the league’s most dangerous finishers in his prime. Defensively, he was at his best as a physical frontcourt body who could rebound, switch in spots, and hold his ground inside rather than function as a true back-line rim protector. Offensively, his role evolved from highlight-finishing post threat and pick-and-roll weapon into a secondary creator who could handle the ball, pass, and initiate offense from the elbows or above the break. His overall play style blended power, burst, and skill, with his best years built on downhill pressure, transition force, playmaking feel, and a competitive edge that made him far more than just a dunker. (NBA)
Scouting Report
Blake Griffin forced defences into uncomfortable decisions because he could initiate offence from places where most power forwards were expected to finish it. What stands out isn’t just the explosiveness that grabbed the headlines, but how quickly he recognised a defender’s balance. If a big retreated in drop coverage, he’d gather speed into the lane before the help was set. If the defence loaded up early, he’d slip a bounce pass to a cutter or hit the weak-side corner without overcomplicating the read. As his game evolved, he became increasingly comfortable bringing the ball up the floor, flowing straight into dribble handoffs or empty-side pick-and-rolls where his combination of power and ball handling created mismatches that were difficult to solve with conventional coverages. Around the basket he played through contact rather than avoiding it, and he generated separation with violent shoulder fakes, spin moves and abrupt changes of direction that often caught bigger defenders flat-footed. The trade-off was that his jumper could fluctuate enough for opponents to live with certain shots, and defensively he was more effective when reading the play in front of him than constantly rotating across multiple actions. He could hold his ground against post scorers and move his feet well enough on short switches, but repeated screen navigation or long closeouts weren’t where he was most comfortable. I’ve always thought Griffin was at his best with shooting around him and a rim-protecting centre behind him, giving him the freedom to attack downhill, facilitate from the elbows and punish scrambled defences without carrying every defensive responsibility. His offensive profile shares obvious similarities with Amar’e Stoudemire, but there are also flashes of Chris Webber in the way he could turn a face-up possession into a passing opportunity before the defence realised he wasn’t committed to scoring.
Fun Facts
- Blake Griffin was the 2009 Naismith College Player of the Year and won numerous awards during his time at the University of Oklahoma, including Big 12 Player of the Year.
- He was selected as the #1 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft but missed his rookie season due to a knee injury. He returned in 2010–2011 and won NBA Rookie of the Year.
- Known for his explosive athleticism, dunking ability, and versatility, Griffin was a 6-time NBA All-Star and 5-time All-NBA Team member during his career.
- He was a key player during the “Lob City” era with the Clippers, alongside Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan.
- Off the court, Griffin has pursued acting and comedy, appearing in commercials, movies, and stand-up performances. He is also involved in philanthropic efforts, including funding a children’s hospital in Oklahoma City.
Player Insights
Player Overview: I watched Blake Griffin play for the Oklahoma Sooners in college and he was very dominant. He took the Sooners to the regional finals of the NCAA tournament. He also won two state championships in high school with Oklahoma Christian School. Griffin was extremely athletic in college and the only question was how dominant was he going to look in the NBA by comparison. While playing for the Los Angeles Clippers in his prime, he looked just as dominant. Thankfully he teamed up with Chris Paul in LA and they created Lob City. 1/24/2025
Sources:
Basketball-Reference — Blake Griffin Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
NBA.com — Blake Griffin | Forward | Boston Celtics
NBA.com — Former All-Star, Rookie of Year winner Blake Griffin announces retirement
NBA.com — 2018-19 Pistons Profile: Blake Griffin
NBA.com — Blake Griffin still grinding for gold medal opportunity
NBA.com — Top 10 Plays: Blake Griffin’s best from days with LA Clippers