Six-time NBA All-Star Blake Griffin confirms retirement from basketball

Former NBA No.1 draft pick Blake Griffin (35) has officially announced his retirement from basketball. This comes almost a year after his last game in the NBA. In a lighthearted statement shared on social media, Griffin expressed his gratitude to everyone who played a role in his career.

Griffin stated that he never saw himself as the type of person to make a formal retirement announcement, but upon reflecting on his career, he wanted to express his deep sense of thankfulness.

He acknowledged that basketball has given him so much in life and that he wouldn't change a thing.

In a playful manner, Griffin added that he won't follow the tradition of saying he's excited for his next chapter because, in reality, he's done with basketball.

Griffin's final NBA game took place in the 2022-2023 playoffs last April when he played for the Boston Celtics and faced a defeat against the Atlanta Hawks.

Throughout his career, Griffin spent the majority of his time with the Los Angeles Clippers, playing eight seasons for the team after being selected as the top pick in the 2009 draft.

He also had stints with the Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets before concluding his career with the Boston Celtics in the 2022-2023 season. Over the course of 765 games, he maintained an average of 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.