Guest of the League
Like Mike
Offseason | NBA Week 26

Former No. 1 pick Blake Griffin retires after 14 seasons

Tue Apr 16 1:47pm ET
Field Level Media

Former Oklahoma star and No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Blake Griffin retired after 14 seasons on Tuesday.

Griffin announced his retirement on social media, expressing how appreciative he was despite the ups and downs throughout his career.

"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," he wrote.

He continued: "I'm equally thankful for the not-so-good moments: the losses, the injuries, the wayyyy too many surgeries, the lessons, the heartbreaks, and it wouldn't be [a] sports retirement letter without acknowledging the ‘haters.' All of these experiences made my 14 years in the league truly unforgettable, and I can't help but to just feel thankful."


Griffin, 35, was a six-time All-Star forward who won the 2010-11 Rookie of the Year Award with the Los Angeles Clippers, who selected him first overall in the 2009 draft. Griffin missed the 2009-10 season due to a knee injury.

Griffin also made the first of five straight All-Star appearances in 2010-11 and won the Slam Dunk Contest, leaping over a car for a dunk.

Despite the addition of Chris Paul in 2011-12, the Clippers never got past the Western Conference semifinals during the Griffin era and traded him to the Detroit Pistons during the 2017-18 season. Griffin had signed a five-year, $171 million extension with the Clippers a few months earlier.

After stints with the Pistons and Brooklyn Nets, Griffin played last season for the Boston Celtics but did not play in the NBA this season.

His best season came in 2013-14, when he finished third in MVP voting after averaging 24.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

For his career, Griffin averaged 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 765 games (692 starts). He received second-team All-NBA honors three times and third-team All-NBA twice.

Player Notes
Giannis Antetokounmpo Wed May 1 9:00pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) continues to carry a doubtful designation on the injury report ahead of Thursday's Game 6 against Indiana. After the Bucks extended the first-round series with a 115-92 win on Tuesday, head coach Doc Rivers said Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard (Achilles) are "very, very, very close" to returning, but the doubtful tag indicates that Thursday's game will come too soon for them. Bobby Portis will be counted on to start instead of Antetokounmpo again. He's had a very good series with four double-doubles in five games.

Mitchell Robinson Wed May 1 8:50pm

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (ankle) has been listed as questionable on the injury report for Thursday's Game 6 against Philadelphia. The seven-footer was back in action in Game 5 on Tuesday after sitting out one contest. Robinson produced an impressive defensive display across 25 minutes with two blocks and three steals. He also had seven rebounds while settling for two points. If he's deemed good to go, Robinson will continue to split minutes with Isaiah Hartenstein, who went for six points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block in Game 5.

Mike Conley Wed May 1 5:50pm

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley has been awarded the NBA's 2023-24 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year. This is the second time he has earned this honor in his career, as he was given the award during the 2018-2019 season as well. In the voting, the 36-year-old finished ahead of Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson. Conley's efforts helped Minnesota earn the third seed in the Western Conference this year. He will try to propel the Timberwolves to a deep playoff run as they prepare for a highly anticipated second-round matchup with the Denver Nuggets.

Joel Embiid Wed May 1 5:40pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) is considered questionable for Thursday's game versus the New York Knicks because of a left-knee injury. This injury designation has become the norm for the superstar big man, but he has not missed a single game in this series. The 76ers have a ton of momentum heading into Game 6 after their thrilling victory on Tuesday, however, they still face elimination and will need Embiid to be at his best to keep their season alive again. Despite his field-goal percentage being lower by more than 9% compared to the regular season, he has still posted dominant numbers during this postseason, with averages of 31.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. The official word on his playing status will come on Thursday.

Duncan Robinson Wed May 1 5:40pm

Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson (back) will play in Wednesday's contest against the Boston Celtics. The sharpshooter has continued to play through a back injury, and Miami will need everyone to step up as they face elimination in Game 5. Robinson has not made much of an impact in this series, playing less than 10 minutes in both of the previous two games. However, the Heat continue to struggle with injuries, as Jimmy Butler (knee), Terry Rozier (neck), and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (hip) are all unavailable to play, which could lead to a bigger role for Robinson.

Haywood Highsmith Wed May 1 5:40pm

Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (foot) will suit up for Wednesday's game versus the Boston Celtics. The 27-year-old is listed on the injury report because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot, however, he will be able to play through the ailment as Miami hopes to keep their season alive in Game 5. The Heat are facing elimination against a talented Celtics team, and it is likely Highsmith will play a larger role since Miami is missing key players such as Jimmy Butler (knee), Terry Rozier (neck), and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (hip). Highsmith could be a sneaky play for DFS managers for Wednesday's game, as he has seen at least 19 minutes in every matchup of this series.

Tyrese Haliburton Wed May 1 9:30am

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton had a rough outing in Game 5 against Milwaukee on Tuesday, finishing a 115-92 loss with 16 points, four rebounds, and six assists. Haliburton turned in a below-par line despite a hot start that saw him hit two treys inside the first four minutes. He ended up going 4-for-10 from downtown with a 6-for-14 overall effort from the field. Pascal Siakam was limited to 12 points, and the Pacers definitely need more from their leaders to wrap up the series in Game 6 on Thursday.

Bobby Portis Wed May 1 9:20am

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Bobby Portis was back to his best against Indiana on Tuesday, helping the team extend the series in Game 5 with a 29-point, 10-rebound double-double. He shot 14-for-24 from the field and had one assist and one steal as well. This was an impressive bounce-back performance from Portis after he was limited to only four points and three rebounds in Game 4 due to an early ejection. Filling in for Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) in the first unit, Portis has done a great job, averaging 15.8 points and 10.6 rebounds in the series. He should remain a double-double threat even if Antetokounmpo is cleared for action and Portis heads back to the bench.

Khris Middleton Wed May 1 9:10am

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton notched 29 points as the team fought off elimination in Game 5 against Indiana with a 115-92 victory on Tuesday. He was a superb 4-for-7 from behind the arc and shot 9-for-20 overall while adding a game-high 12 rebounds to his tally. Middleton posted his third consecutive double-double in the series and also helped out on offense with five assists. The Bucks would be dead and buried without his fantastic play in the 2024 playoffs. With Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) battling injuries, Middleton had notched 26.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists against the Pacers.

Donovan Mitchell Wed May 1 9:10am

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell led his team with 28 points in Tuesday's Game 5 win over the Magic. The multi-time All-Star finally lived up to his reputation points-wise in the series, but he shot a poor 9-for-23 from the field, including 1-for-7 from outside. Mitchell also committed four of the team's 10 turnovers while picking up six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. The Cavaliers star has been off his game in the 2024 playoffs thus far, shooting below 23 percent from deep and averaging only 22.4 points. His other numbers have dropped as well compared to the regular season.

Evan Mobley Wed May 1 9:00am

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley was the hero of the night in Tuesday's 104-103 Game 5 win over Orlando. With mere seconds left in regulation, Mobley blocked Franz Wagner's layup to complete a good all-around performance. The USC product posted a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double and had four assists, two steals, and two blocks with 7-for-11 shooting. The Cavaliers needed every bit of Mobley's contributions after seeing Jarrett Allen (ribs) ruled out for the contest. He's set to have a huge role again in Game 6 on Friday if Allen can't return. Marcus Morris Sr. helped out on the frontcourt with 12 points and three rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.

Paolo Banchero Wed May 1 8:50am

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero led the way with 39 points in Tuesday's 104-103 Game 5 loss to Cleveland. He shot 14-for-24 from the field and 4-for-7 from downtown en route to becoming the third-youngest player ever with 39-plus points in a playoff game, behind only LeBron James and Magic Johnson. Banchero's night included eight rebounds and four assists with five turnovers. The Magic star now boasts two 30-point efforts in the series and is averaging 24.8 points overall, along with 7.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists. Orlando will need similar numbers from him in Friday's Game 6 to survive for another day.

Gary Harris Wed May 1 8:50am

Orlando Magic guard/forward Gary Harris suffered a hamstring strain in Tuesday's Game 5 against Cleveland. After averaging 28 minutes in the first four games of the series, the veteran was limited to a 19-minute outing. Harris came up with a pair of blocks in the contest but didn't contribute anything else on the box score, shooting 0-for-3. Jalen Suggs went close to 40 minutes on the night with Harris out of the lineup for the fourth quarter. Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony could be looked at for bigger contributions in Friday's Game 6 if Harris is unavailable.

Jalen Brunson Tue Apr 30 10:30pm

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson had a team-high 40 points in Tuesday's overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He added six assists, three rebounds, and three steals. While Tyrese Maxey had a game-high 46 points, Brunson had another stellar performance. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough, with the series heading back to Philly for Game 6. Brunson has scored at least 39 points in each of his last three games, and he has an excellent chance to remain as dominant on Thursday night.

Joel Embiid Tue Apr 30 10:20pm

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid had a triple-double in Tuesday's overtime win over the Knicks. Embiid's performance wasn't pretty, with the 30-year-old scoring only 19 points, by far his fewest of the series. While DFS managers appreciated his 16 rebounds, 10 assists, and four blocks, he still had nine turnovers. As usual, Embiid was favoring his knee during the contest. Although he'll likely appear on the injury report ahead of Game 6 on Thursday night, he should be on the floor. Embiid has played better at home during the series, including a 50-point showing in Game 3, meaning he has a good chance to turn things around.

Tyrese Maxey Tue Apr 30 10:10pm

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 46 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, to lead his team to an overtime win over the Knicks. He added nine assists and five rebounds. On a night when Joel Embiid struggled, Maxey put the Sixers on his back to keep the series alive. The 23-year-old easily had one of the best games of his career, so he'll try to keep it going in Game 6 on Thursday night. With that in mind, Maxey has played much better on the road during this series, so he could have trouble replicating his Game 5 performance.

Jarrett Allen Tue Apr 30 9:30pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (ribs) couldn't shake off a questionable tag for Tuesday's Game 5 battle against Orlando. He suffered a right rib contusion in Game 4. There were hopes of him being available on Tuesday, but Allen was ruled out after going through a warmup. Isaac Okoro started the game in his place. Evan Mobley has a huge role to play without Allen on the Cavaliers frontcourt, with Marcus Morris Sr. and Tristan Thompson working as his backups. Allen's first chance to return comes in Friday's Game 6.

Tyrese Haliburton Tue Apr 30 9:20pm

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back) will be good to go for Tuesday's Game 5 against Milwaukee. He's been dealing with lower back spasms, and the team initially had him as questionable for the game, but Haliburton has been upgraded to available. The two-time All-Star will look to register his third double-double of the series on Tuesday. He's averaging 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 10.0 assists in the playoffs.

Patrick Beverley Tue Apr 30 9:10pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) and guard Patrick Beverley (oblique) will play on Tuesday against Indiana. The team has upgraded both players from probable to available. With Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) on the shelf, the Bucks offense will lean heavily on Middleton, while Beverley will mostly fill defensive duties. The rest of Milwaukee's starting five also needs to step up for the team to avoid a fourth consecutive loss and elimination on Tuesday.

Damian Lillard Tue Apr 30 9:10pm

Milwaukee Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) have both been ruled out for Tuesday's Game 5 against Indiana. They were considered doubtful for the clash and unfortunately for Milwaukee, the team won't have either available on Tuesday. Bobby Portis and Malik Beasley will likely remain among the starters. The first unit should get massive minutes in the contest as the Bucks face elimination.