Former Pistons All-Star Blake Griffin announces retirement

Blake Griffin isn't the first name that comes to mind when listing the greatest Pistons players.

But Griffin did have one of his best seasons when he was in a Pistons uniform, earning All-NBA honors for the 2018-19 season. That was his last All-Star season in a spectacular career, which ended Tuesday, with Griffin announcing his retirement on social media.

"I am thankful for every single moment — not just the good ones: the wins, the awards, the dunk, and the memorable times spent with family, friends, fans, teammates, and coaches," Griffin posted on X (formerly Twitter). "I am 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 the No. 1 pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2009 NBA Draft, a high-flying scoring machine out of Oklahoma. His athleticism separated him from other players his size, and at 6-foot-9, he changed the power-forward position. Injuries, though, derailed what started as an elite-level body of work.

He missed all of the 2009-10 season because of a knee injury, and he was selected Rookie of the Year the following season, when he also was named an All-Star, posting 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds. Griffin played all 82 games that season, the only time in his career that he would reach that mark.

Early in his career, Griffin continued that high level of production, with four consecutive All-Star selections, and he also had All-NBA honors in each of those seasons.

Injuries caught up with him and limited his playing time, including just 35 games in 2015-16, and he was traded to the Pistons at the deadline of the '18 season, bringing optimism that the Pistons could build a winner. Griffin finished that season with 19.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 25 games, showing that he had refined his game to not just be a post-up big man, but a facilitator.

In the following season, he had one of the best years of his career, with 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists, helping the Pistons to the playoffs, a four-game sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. Griffin battled knee injuries during that stretch, and he was never the same explosive and dominating player for the rest of his career.

Griffin played just 18 games in the 2019-'20 season and had the lowest production of his career to that point: 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets at the deadline in '21, and he was mostly a reserve for the rest of his career, playing 41 games for the Boston Celtics in 2022-23.

Ever the comedian, Griffin finished his retirement announcement with humor.

"The game of basketball has given me so much in this life, and I wouldn't change a thing. Last but certainly not least, here comes the obligatory 'I'm excited for my next chapter' part: just kidding, I'm done."