Blake Griffin officially retires
- Thread starter joe dokes
- Start date
Pretty good draft class, 2009:
Blake Griffin
James Harden
Steph Curry
DeMar DeRozan
Jrue Holiday
Taj Gibson (obviously nowhere near the level of the other guys but he's had a solid NBA career)
Patrick Beverly
Danny Green
Patty Mills
Ricky Rubio
Griffin, Harden, Curry - all HOF locks. DeRozan and Holiday have a chance, perhaps, to get in as well.
Blake Griffin
James Harden
Steph Curry
DeMar DeRozan
Jrue Holiday
Taj Gibson (obviously nowhere near the level of the other guys but he's had a solid NBA career)
Patrick Beverly
Danny Green
Patty Mills
Ricky Rubio
Griffin, Harden, Curry - all HOF locks. DeRozan and Holiday have a chance, perhaps, to get in as well.
I'd think DeRozan's chances are better than Blake's. And let's get Holiday another ring and he'll be there also.
Blake: 6x all-star, 5x all-NBA, ROY
DeRozan: 6x all-star, 3x all-NBA
So maybe?
And yes to your Holiday suggestion. Very much yes, please.
Blake will get in. He was a complete force before injuries zapped him of his other-worldly athleticism. And even after that, he still churned out one more All-NBA season with Detroit when his burst was basically gone, until injuries took him down for good.
DeRozan is probably going to end up at like, 28,000+ points at this rate. He's 31st all time in scoring and could crack the top 25 with another good season next year.
Holiday with only two All-Star nods and no All-NBAs makes it hard for him to get in without another title, and probably could use a third to help round out his case as a great, winning player.
DeRozan is probably going to end up at like, 28,000+ points at this rate. He's 31st all time in scoring and could crack the top 25 with another good season next year.
Holiday with only two All-Star nods and no All-NBAs makes it hard for him to get in without another title, and probably could use a third to help round out his case as a great, winning player.
To be clear, I think Blake was the better player, but DeRozan's point total is going to be the equivalent of 3,000 hits. There isn't anybody in the top 50 who isn't in the Hall or isn't an absolute 100% lock except for DeRozan and Vince Carter (who is like a 95% lock).
And, to be safe under @Kliq's criteria, let's get Jrue two more rings. Heck, make it three to be safe.
Griffin also had a decorated college career, winning the Wooden and Naismith awards to go along with the AP Player of Year award for his stint in Oklahoma. He'll be a first ballot selection without hesitation.
As was rumored all season around here, he had a standing offer to (re-) join the Celtics, which was the only team he was considering joining, and is rooting for them this postseason.
https://www.celticsblog.com/2024/4/17/24133030/blake-griffin-retirement-boston-celtics-brad-stevens-nba-playoffs
No wonder we kept a roster spot open for so long, until we got a final answer and gave it to Queta instead. But you'd think "hey don't you want a ring?" to be a fairly compelling argument, even if he didn't really think he could make his body do it anymore.
https://www.celticsblog.com/2024/4/17/24133030/blake-griffin-retirement-boston-celtics-brad-stevens-nba-playoffs
No wonder we kept a roster spot open for so long, until we got a final answer and gave it to Queta instead. But you'd think "hey don't you want a ring?" to be a fairly compelling argument, even if he didn't really think he could make his body do it anymore.
My first thought was that Jrue matched up fairly well with DJ, but in reviewing DJ’s career, it’s not really close, other than All-Defensive team selections and even there DJ leads 9-5.
Yeah, I think people don't remember how good DJ was. He was the best or second best player on a title team in Seattle before he even came to Boston.
I would make a shitty businessman/GM. Because I wouldve totally hired Blake to be special counsel to the PoBO as soon as he he said he was done as a player. Maybe guys at that level have too much pride to wear that ring.
Forever indebted to Blake. The little he played in preseason his rookie year (where he got hurt and had to sit out) instantly made the clippers a real franchise. Like instantly. It was clear the same old sterling bullshit with #1 picks and recylcing garbage wasnt going to fly.
I know the clippers are a joke but now they're a regular playoff team/in the mix for 1st/2nd round exit. That is an incredible feat from where they were for 20+ years before him.
Going from complete embarrassment to "oh they'll choke in the 1st round" embarrassment is such a massive leap for a franchise. It changes everything to just be one of the 16 in the mix for a spot every year.
Love Blake. Incredibly immature for portions of his time here and untimely injuries (chalk that up to the curse) but he saved the franchise. They dont get to balmer without him (yes i rank him higher than V Stiviano).
I know the clippers are a joke but now they're a regular playoff team/in the mix for 1st/2nd round exit. That is an incredible feat from where they were for 20+ years before him.
Going from complete embarrassment to "oh they'll choke in the 1st round" embarrassment is such a massive leap for a franchise. It changes everything to just be one of the 16 in the mix for a spot every year.
Love Blake. Incredibly immature for portions of his time here and untimely injuries (chalk that up to the curse) but he saved the franchise. They dont get to balmer without him (yes i rank him higher than V Stiviano).