The Los Angeles Clippers chose Blake Griffin as their first overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. But, he ended up missing his entire rookie year due to a stress fracture in his left knee. Finally, in the 2010-2011 season, he made his NBA debut and enjoyed several successful seasons with the Clippers. Then, on January 29, 2018, things changed when he was traded to the Detroit Pistons, along with Willie Reed and Brice Johnson.
While many people thought this trade was a setback, Griffin sees it as a pivotal moment in his career. Recently, on Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, “7 PM in Brooklyn,” he reflected on how that move to the Pistons shaped his journey in the league.
“My first true free agency where I had a decision, I chose to go back to the Clippers. Six months later I was in Detroit. I look back at that, and people are like, ‘It must be awful to go from LA to Detroit. Nah, because it was a very defining moment for me and my career. To be away from that and show people that I’m playing 75 games, as much as I possibly can. I’m playing as hard as I can. I’m trying to take that team to the Playoffs. It was a proud moment for me,” Griffin said.
Griffin sustained additional injuries while playing for the Pistons, suffering a bone bruise in his right ankle during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 26, 2019. On March 8, 2021, Griffin joined the Brooklyn Nets, where he played for two seasons. Later, on September 30, 2022, he signed a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics. Finally, on April 16, 2024, Griffin announced his retirement from professional basketball.
Blake Griffin Talks About Jimmy Butler’s Situation With The Miami Heat
NBA analysts have been discussing Jimmy Butler’s potential inclusion in trade talks since the beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season. Recently, Butler expressed his desire for a trade, which intensified speculation about his future. Additionally, the Miami Heat suspended Butler for seven games due to his comments. Recently, Griffin shared his thoughts on Butler’s situation with the Heat.
“If this is the first time he wants out of Miami, cool. I get it. No problem with that but remember Minnesota. Philly, remember Philly? Yeah. Now in Chicago. You only have a certain amount of times you can do that, right? It’s entertaining but I think if it was the NBA, he probably would’ve had to play it a different way,” Griffin said on Carmelo Anthony’s podcast.
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Butler’s situation with the Heat has really got the NBA community buzzing. Fans are super curious about where he’ll land before the trade deadline on February 6, 2025.
Also Read: RUMOR: Jimmy Butler Still “Expected” To Stay With Miami Heat Despite A Lengthy Suspension
