Former Celtics player Blake Griffin considered returning to Boston, but ultimately decided that the time had come and ended his playing career. Although he was past his prime with the Celtics, the six-time All-Star opted to retire after his final season in Boston.
Griffin has officially announced his retirement after more than a decade in the league, and the 2011 Rookie of the Year and former Slam Dunk Contest champion spent his final season in Boston in 2022-23.
Although the 35-year-old is past his prime in Boston, former teammates Derrick White and Payton Pritchard want him to play for the Celtics again.
Griffin admitted that he considered the idea and even spoke to Brad Stevens, the Celtics' president of basketball operations, to offer him a long-term contract, but eventually he abandoned the idea.
Speaking about the reason for retiring, Griffin said: "I haven't made a final decision for a while. I did have a pending invitation to come back to Boston, and I remember when the end of December came, I called Brad Stevens and said, 'Man, I really appreciate it. I was in constant communication with him the whole time. But I'm not that person anymore, something has changed. I know when something changes, it's time to end. ”
Having more time with his family and children was a big factor in Griffin's retirement, in addition, he realized that even if he wore the green and white jersey again, he was not sure how much he could contribute.
With the Celtics, Griffin averaged 13.9 minutes per game and scored 4.1 points in 41 regular-season games. Although he was nowhere near his peak in Boston, he brought senior leadership to the Celtics and played a positive role in the locker room.
The news of Blake Griffin's retirement has left fans with emotion, and he has left a strong mark on the league over the past decade.
Before announcing his retirement, he communicated with the Celtics to consider whether to play for the Green Shirts again. However, despite former teammates Derrick White and Peyton Pritchard hoping he would return, Griffin ultimately decided to end his career.
Blake Griffin's retirement is a reminder of his illustrious career. Although he didn't win a championship, his performances during his time with the Clippers, especially during his time with the "empty city", will always be remembered.
Later with the Detroit Pistons, he averaged a career-high 24.5 points per game in 2018-19 and led the team to the playoffs despite being plagued by injuries.
Griffin's career has been full of ups and downs, but he always tries to make each team better. His retirement reflects the seriousness he thinks about his family and his career, and it deserves respect.
To be honest, I'm really looking forward to Griffin being back as head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers after many years, which must be very interesting, at least better than Doug Rivers as head coach.
Blake Griffin's retirement meant the end of an era, but it was also the perfect end to his career. His experience teaches us that even in the face of challenges and difficulties, we can achieve our goals through unremitting efforts and perseverance.
Griffin's contributions on the pitch will be remembered, and his retirement will also spark reflection and reflection on his career.