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Former Celtics Forward, Six-Time All-Star Officially Retires From NBA
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, six-time All-Star and former Boston Celtics forward Blake Griffin is officially retiring from the NBA.
Griffin spent the 2022-23 season with the Celtics as they made a run to the Eastern Conference finals, where they ultimately lost to the Miami Heat in seven games. He averaged 4.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 41 appearances during his lone season in Boston.
The 35-year-old also shared a statement on Twitter, noting that he is “thankful for every single moment” he spent in the league.
Known for his days on the Lob City LA Clippers, Griffin’s prime years were spent with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, though his furthest playoff appearance came with the Celtics.
Following Boston’s postseason exit last spring, the team proceeded without Griffin, but much to the dismay of his teammates.
During an appearance on the “Pardon My Take” podcast, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White revealed that the Celtics “begged” Griffin to rejoin the team.
“I think the whole team has been begging him to,’ White said.
However, Griffin is happy with his life away from basketball.
“I texted him actually a week ago or two jokingly being like, ‘Coming back for one last ride?’ He says he’s enjoying his life,” Pritchard said on PMT.
But while he’s not officially donning the green and white, Griffin still likes the Celtics to bring home a championship this year.
“They’re my favorites,” Griffin said when they called him live on PMT. “I don’t guarantee, I don’t want to put bad juju on them, but they are the heavy favorites in my mind.”
Further Reading
Brad Stevens Notes Crucial Element of Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'Bigger Than Themselves'
After Career Night, Reflective Payton Pritchard Discusses NBA Journey and His Ultimate Pursuit
'Nip That in the Bud': Celtics Address End-of-Season Struggles
Jrue Holiday on Celtics Extension: 'Try to Get More Banners, Get More Rings'
Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented
Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'
Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.