Celebrate Blake Griffin's 26th birthday with some rare photos
Rare Photos of Blake Griffin
1991
A 2-year-old Blake Griffin gets a boost from older brother Taylor (5) to reach a hoop at their home in Oklahoma. Clearly he wouldn't need help for long.
1994
Blake Griffin (right) and older brother Taylor at ages 5 and 8. Multi-sport stars.
2004
Blake Griffin (right) and older brother Taylor at ages 14 and 17.
2006
Oklahoma Christian School product Blake Griffin intimidates at the Nike All-American Camp in Indianapolis.
2006
Blake Griffin cuts through the lane for an easy basket at Nike Peach Jam.
Blake Griffin just chilling on the steps at Nike Peach Jam.
2006
Blake Griffin, doing his thing at Nike Peach Jam.
2007
Blake Griffin scored a perfect 50 on his first dunk and a 41 on his second dunk to win the McDonald's All-American slam dunk competition. Shocker.
2007
Teammates Taylor and Blake Griffin get loose before an Oklahoma practice.
2008
Blake Griffin and then Oklahoma women's star Courtney Paris pose (awkwardly) for SI's 2008 college basketball preview cover.
2009
Some in-your-face Blake Griffin action.
2009
Blake Griffin partakes in a round of hoops with Subway spokesman, Jared? Sure, why not?
2009
Blake Griffin channels his inner Clayton Kershaw.
2011
You know this Blake Griffin dunk well, but have you seen the composite of every frame? Pretty great, right?
2011
An overhead view of one of Blake Griffin's dunks during the All-Star Slam Dunk contest.
2011
Blake Griffin, on a beach. Yeah, he must workout.
2011
Blake Griffin gets his Rookie of the Year trophy polished during a photo shoot.
2011
Blake Griffin watches a take on the camera monitor during the first day of his internship with comedy website Funny Or Die during the NBA lockout.
2011
Blake Griffin makes Subway 6-inch Cold Cut Combo and Meatball Marinara sandwiches like a champ. Apparently he was a frequent customer of this L.A. Subway restaurant during the lockout.
2012
Blake Griffin poses with Elmo during a guest appearance on Sesame Street.
2012
Grant Hill and Blake Griffin stroll through the Great Wall of China. Hard not to look like tourists when you're 6-8 and 6-10.
2012
DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin bargain with vendors during a visit to the Great Wall of China. Hope they didn't pay full price for those hats.
2013
Blake Griffin bowls during the Chris Paul PBA League All-Stars Invitational Bowling Tournament at Lucky Strike Lanes in L.A.
2014
Blake Griffin Jesse Jackson before a Clippers-Warriors playoff game in L.A.
2014
Blake Griffin smiles alongside teammate Hedo Turkoglu after being pulled during a preseason game against the Warriors in L.A.
2015
Blake Griffin squeegees the windshield of his Tesla at a gas station in L.A. Not above going to self service.
2015
Blake Griffin warms up before Clippers-Spurs playoff game in L.A.
• Lakers' Nick Young shows off his comedic chops on The Soup
While it may feel like Blake Griffin has been posterizing unsuspecting NBA players forever now, the Clippers star is only 26, and to celebrate the day Sports Illustrated has rounded up 26 rare photos of Griffin.
Click through to watch as Griffin progresses from a 2-year-old who needed help to dunk on a mini hoop, to a high school phenom taking over the McDonald's All-America Dunk contest to the All-Star player of today.
• Kermit the Frog announces the Clippers starting lineup
Where else will you be able to see Griffin jumping over a car and shooting around with Jared from the Subway commercials? (Click here for the full-size version of the gallery)
- Brendan Maloy