Blake Griffin: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 15:34, 9 January 2011

YiğitPoyrazYiğitPoyrazYiğitPoyraz

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+YiğitPoyrazYiğitPoyrazYiğitPoyraz
-{{Infobox NBA Player
-| name         = Blake Griffin
-| image        = BlakeGriffin.JPG
-| caption      = Blake Griffin during his tenure at Oklahoma.
-| team         = Los Angeles Clippers
-| number       = 32
-| position     = [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]]
-| career_start = 2009
-| career_end   =
-| height_ft    = 6
-| height_in    = 10
-| weight_lb    = 251
-| nationality  = American
-| college      = [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Oklahoma]]
-| draft_round  = 1
-| draft_pick   = [[List of first overall NBA draft picks|1]]
-| draft_team   = [[Los Angeles Clippers]]
-| draft_year   = 2009
-| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1989|3|16|}}
-| birth_place  = [[Oklahoma City]], [[Oklahoma]]<ref name="bio">[http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/griffin_blake00.html Blake Griffin - SoonerSports.com]. soonersports.com. Retrieved January 3, 2011.</ref>
-| high_school  = [[Oklahoma Christian School]] ([[Edmond, Oklahoma]])
-| teams        = <nowiki></nowiki>
-* [[Los Angeles Clippers]] ({{nbay|2009|start}}–present)
-| highlights   = <nowiki></nowiki>
-* [[Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|Big 12 Player of the Year]] <small>(2009)</small>
-* [[John R. Wooden Award]] <small>(2009)</small>
-* [[Naismith College Player of the Year]] <small>(2009)</small>
-* [[Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year|AP National Player of the Year]] <small>(2009)</small>
-*[[Oscar Robertson Trophy|USBWA College Player of the Year]] <small>(2009)</small>
-* [[Adolph Rupp Trophy]] </small>(2009)</small>
-}}
-'''Blake Austin Griffin''' (born March 16, 1989) is an American professional [[basketball]] player for the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). Born in [[Oklahoma City]], [[Oklahoma]], Griffin attended [[Oklahoma Christian School]] for [[high-school]] basketball where his father was the head coach. He played [[college basketball]] for the [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Oklahoma Sooners]], winning the [[Naismith College Player of the Year|Naismith Award]] and [[John Wooden Award]], and was named the [[Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year|Associated Press]] and the [[Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|Big 12]] Player of the Year in his second year.<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iA1zbkyKpjUqbqA06kmqkcfFNYTAD97B0IB00 Oklahoma's Griffin is AP's player of the year, April 3, 2009]</ref><ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4060278 ESPN: Griffin, Moore pick up more hardware]</ref> After two seasons at Oklahoma, Griffin left college to enter the [[2009 NBA Draft]] where he was selected with the [[List of first overall NBA draft picks|number one pick]] by the [[Los Angeles Clippers]].
-==Early life==
-===Childhood===
-Griffin was born on March 16, 1989 in [[Oklahoma City]], [[Oklahoma]] to Gail and Tommy Griffin.<ref name="bio"/> His father was a former basketball center and track standout at [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] [[Northwestern Oklahoma State University]].<ref name="SkilledMimic">Anderson, Kelli (January 26, 2009). [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1150929/3/index.htm Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin is a skilled mimic]. ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. Retrieved January 4, 2011.</ref> Griffin and his older brother, [[Taylor Griffin]], were [[home-schooled]] by their mother from first grade until Taylor was in the tenth grade and Griffin was in eighth.<ref name="SoonersTitle">O'Neil, Dana (August 6, 2009). [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=3668421 Griffin's return to Oklahoma has Sooners looking for title]. ESPN. Retrieved January 4, 2011.</ref><ref name="SoonersSavior">Garcia, Marlen (January 26, 2009). [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/big12/2009-01-25-oklahoma-griffin_N.htm Sooners' savior? Blake Griffin guides Oklahoma's title quest]. ''[[USA Today]]''. Retrieved January 3, 2011.</ref> During his youth, he was teammates with [[Xavier Henry]] of the [[Memphis Grizzlies]] and [[Sam Bradford]] of the [[St. Louis Rams]] on the same [[Amateur Athletic Union|AAU]] team.<ref name="ChatGriffin">SportsNation. [http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/losangeles/chat/_/id/33043 Chat with Blake Griffin]. ESPN. Retrieved January 4, 2011.</ref><ref name="BradfordGriffin">Chatmon, Brandon (April 21, 2010). [http://newsok.com/article/3455607 Athletes First boss says Sam Bradford, Blake Griffin stood out even in high school]. ''[[The Oklahoman]]'' ([[NewsOK.com]]). Retrieved January 7, 2011.</ref>
-===High school===
-Griffin and his brother Taylor attended [[Oklahoma Christian School]] for high school where they played under their father who was the head coach. They played together during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 high school seasons, winning two state high school basketball championships together.<ref name="SoonersTitle"/> In his freshmen year, the Oklahoma Christian Saints posted a perfect 29–0 season and won the Class 3A boys state championship game held at the [[State Fair Arena]] against Riverside.<ref name="OCSriverside">Ritchie, Heath (March 13, 2004). [http://old.coachesaid.com/story.asp?story=-5&t=stories/2006/Playoffs/Basketball/H_03finals_3Ab.txt&xSPORT=ALL OCS beats Riverside in thriller for second title in three years]. [[Coaches Aid]]. Retrieved January 6, 2011.</ref> In his sophomore year, the Saints repeated as Class 3A state champions and finished the season with a 24–2 record,<ref>[http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/griffin_taylor00.html Taylor Griffin - SoonerSports.com]. soonersports.com. Retrieved January 6, 2011.</ref> while averaging 13.6 [[points per game]] in what was his final high school season with his brother.<ref name="ScoutTimeline">Helmer, Joey (June 29, 2009). [http://oklahoma.scout.com/2/875836.html Scout.com: Blake Griffin Timeline]. [[Scout.com]]. Retrieved January 6, 2011.</ref> He was named to the Little All-City All-State team and his brother was named ''[[The Oklahoman]]'' Player of the Year.<ref>"The Roster". ''The Oklahoman''. April 10, 2005.</ref> After the season, his brother went off to college to play for the [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Oklahoma Sooners]]. During the summer of 2005, Griffin played against [[Kevin Durant]] and [[Ty Lawson]] while playing for the Athletes First AAU team.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy8sgkRVtgo YouTube - D.C. Blue Devils vs Athlete's First (Kevin Durant, Ty Lawson & Blake Griffin)]. [[YouTube]]. Retrieved January 7, 2011.</ref><ref>Jenkins, Lee (October 25, 2010). [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/lee_jenkins/10/18/blake.griffin.clippers/index.html Griffin changing Clippers culture]. ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. Retrieved January 7, 2011.</ref>
-As a junior, he averaged 21.7 [[point (basketball)|points]], 12.5 [[rebound (basketball)|rebounds]], and 4.9 [[assist (basketball)|assists]], leading the Saints through the playoffs and earning a berth in the Class 2A championship game, beating [[Washington, Oklahoma|Washington High School]] for a third straight state championship and was named the state tournament MVP.<ref name="bio"/> The team finished 27–1 and Griffin was named ''The Oklahoman'' Player of the Year and to the ''[[Tulsa World]]'' Boys All-State First Team.<ref>"The Roster". ''The Oklahoman''. April 9, 2006.</ref><ref>"Player of the year: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma Christian School – Griffin talking titles for his senior season". ''The Oklahoman''. April 9, 2006.</ref><ref>"Boys All-State First Team". ''[[Tulsa World]]''. April 16, 2006.</ref> He gained national attention as a high school junior and caught the attention of the new head coach for the Oklahoma Sooners, [[Jeff Capel]], who first heard of Griffin through his brother Taylor.<ref name="SkilledMimic"/> During the spring of 2006, Capel saw Griffin play for the first time and was impressed with his combination of size, strength and athleticism.<ref name="SkilledMimic"/> Capel knew Griffin was the player he needed to rebuild his tenure with the Oklahoma men's basketball program.<ref name="SkilledMimic"/> After being recruited by his brother, Griffin committed to [[University of Oklahoma|Oklahoma]] after his junior season, who was also considering [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]], [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|Kansas]], [[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]] and [[Texas Longhorns men's basketball|Texas]].<ref name="SkilledMimic"/><ref name="GriffinFollows">Evans, Thayer (March 8, 2009). [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/sports/ncaabasketball/09griffin.html Blake Griffin Follows His Brother, and Others Follow Him at Oklahoma]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. Retrieved January 8, 2011.</ref>
-During his senior year, he averaged 26.8 points, 15.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.9 blocks per game while leading the team to a 26–3 record.<ref name="bio"/> In a game against Oklahoma City Southeast, Griffin had his best game of the season with 41 points, 28 rebounds, and 10 assists.<ref name="OklahomaAll-State">Hansen, Scott. [http://www.maxpreps.com/news/CuT0RZfLok2UHPrLDTT_Ng/oklahoma--boys-all-state-basketball.htm Oklahoma: Boys All-State Basketball]. [[Coaches Aid]]. Retrieved January 6, 2011.</ref> On March 10, 2007, he played his final high school game in the state title game against [[Pawnee High School]].<ref name="ScoutTimeline"/> He registered 22 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks, as the Saints defeated Pawnee 81-50, winning their fourth straight state title.<ref name="SoonersTitle"/> He was named the Class 2A state tournament MVP for the second consecutive year after averaging 26.6 points per game in the tournament, winning its three games by an average of 30.3 points.<ref name="bio"/> During his four-year run, the Oklahoma Christian Saints posted a 106–6 overall record.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=|url=http://www.blakegriffin.com/bio.html |title=Blake Griffin | Bio |author=Blake Griffin |date= |accessdate=January 2, 2011}}</ref> He was named the Player of the Year by both the ''Tulsa World'' and ''The Oklahoman'' and named a Oklahoma Boys All-State First Team, [[EA Sports]] Second Team and a ''[[Parade (magazine)|Parade]]'' Third Team All-American.<ref name="OklahomaAll-State"/><ref>{{cite web |publisher=PARADE Magazine|url=http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2007/edition_04-01-2007/Basketball |title=Meet PARADE's 2007 All-America High School Boys Basketball Team |author=Michael O'Shea |date=March 23, 2007 |accessdate=January 2, 2011}}</ref> He was ranked as the nation's #13 high school senior by HoopScoop, #20 by [[scout.com]] and #23 by [[rivals.com]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1611 |title=Rivals.com Rivals150 2007 |publisher=Rivals.com |accessdate=January 3, 2011}}</ref> and as the country's third-best power forward by HoopScoop, sixth by rivals.com and the seventh by scout.com.<ref name="bio"/> Additionally, he was the Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year and was selected to the [[McDonald's All-American]] and Jordan Brand All-America teams.<ref name=ChatmonB-TO-2007-04-08>{{cite news |title=Player of the Year: Blake Griffin |author=Chatmon, Brandon |publisher= ''[[The Oklahoman]]'' |date=April 8, 2006 |accessdate=February 15, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=BaileyE-TW-2007-04-02>{{cite web |url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?articleID=070328_2_B1_hOUsi78382| title=Griffin Dunks To a Title |author=Bailey, Eric |publisher= ''[[Tulsa World]]'' |date=April 2, 2006 |accessdate=April 9, 2007}}</ref> At the McDonald's All-American game in [[Louisville, Kentucky]] he won the Powerade Jam Fest [[slam dunk]] contest.<ref name=BaileyE-TW-2007-04-02 />
-==College career==
-[[File:Blake Griffin.jpg|right|thumb|140px|upright|Griffin while playing at [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Oklahoma]]]]
-After accepting a scholarship to play for the [[University of Oklahoma]] [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Sooners]] over [[Connecticut Huskies men's basketball|University of Connecticut]], Duke University, [[Florida Gators men's basketball|University of Florida]], [[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball|University of Illinois]], University of Kansas, [[Michigan State Spartans men's basketball|Michigan State University]], University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in-state [[Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball|Oklahoma State University]], he was one of the highest rated and most decorated recruits ever at Oklahoma.<ref name="bio"/> As a freshman at Oklahoma, he averaged 14.7 points and 9.1 rebounds in 28.4 minutes per game and led the [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Sooners]] to a 23–12 record.<ref name=rivals-yahoo-BlakeGriffin>{{cite web |url=http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/72931 |title=Blake Griffin |publisher= Rivals.com and STATS LLC – (c/o Yahoo.com) |accessdate=February 15, 2009}}</ref> He ranked ninth in scoring, fourth in rebounding and third in field goal percentage in [[Big 12]].<ref name="bio"/> In a game against the Kansas Jayhawks, he suffered a sprained [[medial collateral ligament]] (MCL) in his left knee five minutes into the Sooners game.<ref name=Scott-Rohde-TO-2008-01-15>{{cite news |title=Griffin Leaves with Knee Injury |author=Wright, Scott, and John Rohde |publisher= ''[[The Oklahoman]]'' |date=January 15, 2008 |accessdate=February 15, 2009 }}</ref>
-Less than two months after injuring his left knee, he injured his right knee in a home victory against [[2007–08 Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball team|Texas A&M]].<ref name="ScoutPostseason">Swisher, Michael (March 2, 2008). [http://oklahoma.scout.com/2/733851.html Scout.com: Griffin Out Until Postseason]. [[Scout.com]]. Retrieved January 7, 2011.</ref> The injury this time was torn [[cartilage]], and he had [[Arthroscopy|arthroscopic surgery]] on March 2, 2008.<ref name="ScoutPostseason"/> He missed the following game, a victory over in-state rival [[Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball|Oklahoma State Cowboys]],<ref name=RohdeJ-TO-2008-03-06>{{cite news |title=Sooners Minus Blake Silence Their Critics |author=Rohde, John |publisher= ''The Oklahoman'' |date=March 6, 2008 |accessdate=February 15, 2009 }}</ref> but was back on the court a week after the injury with 14 points and 8 rebounds in 28 minutes versus the [[2007–08 Missouri Tigers men's basketball team|Missouri Tigers]], a win for the Sooners on their home floor.<ref name=rivals-yahoo-BlakeGriffin /> He was a first-team all-district pick by the [[USBWA]] and [[NABC]], and was named to the [[Big 12]] All-Rookie Team and to the first-team All-Big 12 selection by league coaches and [[Associated Press]].<ref name="bio"/> He became the first Sooner to make the conference All-Rookie team since [[Wayman Tisdale]] in 1983 for the [[Big Eight Conference]].<ref name=WrightS-TO-2008-03-11>{{cite news |title=OU, OSU BASKETBALL: ALL-BIG 12 SELECTIONS – Griffin All-Big 12- Sooner standout also selected on all-freshman team |author=Wright, Scott |publisher=''[[The Oklahoman]]'' |date=March 11, 2008 |accessdate=February 15, 2009 }}</ref> He was expected to be a lottery pick in the [[2008 NBA Draft]] but decided to forgo the NBA draft and return to college for a second season to give himself time to mature physically and make Oklahoma a contender for the NCAA championship.<ref name="SoonersSavior"/>
-In his sophomore season, the Sooners started out [[2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|the season]] winning their first 12 games before falling to the [[2008–09 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team|Arkansas Razorbacks]].<ref>Associated Press (December 30, 2008). [http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap/_/id/283650008/oklahoma-sooners-vs-arkansas-razorbacks Oklahoma Sooners vs. Arkansas Razorbacks]. ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2011.</ref> In the third game of the season against the [[2008–09 Davidson Wildcats men's basketball team|Davidson Wildcats]], he scored 25 points and grabbed 21 rebounds,<ref>Associated Press (November 18, 2008). [http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap/_/id/283230201/davidson-wildcats-vs-oklahoma-sooners Davidson Wildcats vs. Oklahoma Sooners]. ESPN. Retrieved January 6, 2011.</ref> after which he scored 35 points and 21 rebounds against [[Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs|Gardner–Webb]],<ref>[http://stats.nj.com/cbk/players.asp?id=72931 Player Stats - Blake Griffin - College Basketball - NJ.com]. [[New Jersey On-Line]]. Retrieved January 3, 2011.</ref> becoming the first player in Big 12 history to record back-to-back games of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds.<ref name="bio"/> This earned him three consecutive Big 12 player of the week honor and finished the season with a record-tying six player of the week honors.<ref name="bio"/> In a home victory against the [[Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball|Texas Tech Red Raiders]], he set career bests for both points and rebounds with 40 points and 23 rebounds,<ref name="rivals-yahoo-BlakeGriffin"/> becoming the only player in Big 12 history and the third player in the history of the University of Oklahoma men's basketball program to score 40 points and get 20 rebounds in the same game, joining [[Wayman Tisdale]] (61 points and 22 rebounds in 1983) and Alvan Adams (43 points and 25 rebounds in 1975).<ref name=LatzkeJ-AP-2009-02-14>{{cite news |title=Blake Griffin has 40 points, 23 boards for No. 2 Sooners against Texas Tech |author=Latzke, Jeff |publisher=[[Associated Press]] – (c/o ''[[The Oklahoman]]'') |date=February 14, 2009 |accessdate=February 15, 2009 }}</ref><ref>Associated Press (February 14, 2009). [http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/29197816/ 'Terminator' helps No. 2 OU crush Texas Tech]. [[NBC Sports]]. Retrieved January 5, 2011.</ref>
-On February 21, he received a concussion in a loss to the [[2008-09 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team|Texas Longhorns]], when he caught an inadvertent shot to the face from the open hand of Texas center [[Dexter Pittman]].<ref name="concussion">{{cite web
-|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3926063 |title=Griffin day to day with concussion |author=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN |date=February 22, 2009 |accessdate=January 3, 2011}}</ref> He sat out the second half during the Sooners loss with a bloody nose.<ref name="concussion"/> It was the Sooners' first loss of their conference schedule for the season.<ref name=HelsleyJ-TO-2009-02-22>Helsley, John. "OU loses Blake Griffin, game". ''[[The Oklahoman]]''. February 22, 2009.</ref> After sitting out the next game, a loss to Kansas Jayhawks, Griffin was cleared by the medical staff and returned a week later to get 20 points and 19 rebounds in a victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders.<ref>Associated Press (February 28, 2009). [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/big12/2009-02-27-blake-griffin-oklahoma_N.htm Oklahoma clears Blake Griffin to play against Texas Tech]. ''[[USA Today]]''. Retrieved January 3, 2011.</ref> The Sooners fell short to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the [[2009 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament|Big 12 Tournament]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.okstate.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031309aac.html|title=Cowboys Down Sooners In Big 12 Tourney |accessdate=January 3, 2011}}</ref> In the [[2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|NCAA Tournament]], he scored 33 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in the second-round win over the [[2008–09 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan Wolverines]],<ref>Perloff, Andrew (March 23, 2009). [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/blog/58822/index.html Got it Done Award -- Blake Griffin is first winner]. ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. Retrieved January 4, 2011.</ref> just the second player in the 2000s [[2000-2009|decade]] with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in the NCAA tournament.<ref>Katz, Andy (March 24, 2009). [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney09/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=4011288 NCAA tournament: Close-knit family keeps Blake Griffin grounded]. ESPN. Retrieved January 4, 2011.</ref> However, the Sooners lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the South Regional final.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=USA TODAY
-|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2009-03-29-oklahoma-griffin_N.htm |title=Blake Griffin leaves his mark on NCAA tournament |author=Tom Weir |date=March 30, 2009 |accessdate=January 3, 2011}}</ref>
-Griffin averaged 22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game during the regular season and earned [[2009 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American First Team]] honors.<ref>Associated Press (March 31, 2009). [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4027698 Griffin, Hansbrough lead AP first team]. ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2011.</ref> He led the Big 12 in scoring and rebounds, and recorded at least 20 points and 15 rebounds 15 times, which is a Big 12 record.<ref name="bio"/> He also set school and Big 12 single-season records for most rebounds (504), rebounding average (14.4), and [[Double (basketball)#Double-double|double-double]]s (30), and his free throw attempts (324) where the most by a Sooner in a single-season.<ref name=HelsleyJ-TO-2009-02-15>{{cite news |title=Blake Griffin has 40 points, 23 boards for No. 2 Sooners against Texas Tech |author=Helsley, John |publisher=''[[The Oklahoman]]'' |date=February 15, 2009 |accessdate=February 15, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=CSSS-OS>{{cite web |url=http://soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/021309aab.html | title=Capel's Sooners Still Streaking | author= |publisher= Oklahoma Sports / SoonerSports.com (CBS Interactive) |accessdate=February 15, 2009}}</ref> With 30 [[Double (basketball)#Double-double|double-double]]s during the season, he was one short of the [[NCAA]] record of 31 set by [[David Robinson (basketball)|David Robinson]] in 1986–1987.<ref name=B12S-2009-03-30>[http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=3703496 "Blake Griffin Wins Oscar Robertson Trophy As USBWA Player of the Year"]. [[Big 12 Conference]]. Big12Sports.com. March 30, 2009</ref> His total of 504 rebounds where the most in a season by an [[NCAA Division I]] player since [[Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball|Indiana State]]'s [[Larry Bird]] had 505 in 1978-79 and his rebounding average (14.4) was the highest since [[Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball|Wake Forest]]'s [[Tim Duncan]] averaged 14.7 in 1996-97.<ref name="bio"/><ref>{{cite web |publisher=Big12Sports.com|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=3706538 |title=Blake Griffin, Bill Self Garner Associated Press Honors |author=Big12Sports.com |date=April 3, 2009 |accessdate=January 3, 2011}}</ref>
-Towards the end of his sophomore season, Griffin was awarded numerous accolades. He was a unanimous choice by voters in all nine geographical districts for the [[Oscar Robertson Trophy]] and was named [[Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year]], receiving 66 of the 71 national media panel members' votes.<ref name="">Big12Sports.com (March 30, 2009). [http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=3703496 Blake Griffin Wins Oscar Robertson Trophy As USBWA Player of the Year]. Big12Sports. Retrieved January 5, 2011.</ref><ref name="GriffinAPaward">Associated Press (April 3, 2009). [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4038856 Griffin first OU player to win AP award]. ESPN. Retrieved January 5, 2011.</ref> Griffin was announced as the winner of the prestigious [[Naismith College Player of the Year]] on April 5 in Detroit.<ref name="GriffinNaismith">ESPN.com news services (April 6, 2009). [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4045079 Griffin caps season with Naismith Award]. ESPN. Retrieved January 5, 2011.</ref> Three days after announcing that he would turn pro, he won the [[John R. Wooden Award|John Wooden Award]] as college basketball's top player.<ref name="GriffinHardware">Associated Press (April 10, 2009). [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4060278 Griffin, Moore pick up more hardware]. ESPN. Retrieved January 5, 2011.</ref> He became the first Oklahoma player in school history to win the Naismith Award, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Adolph Rupp Trophy, John Wooden Award and the Associated Press player of the year.<ref name="GriffinHardware"/><ref name="GriffinAPaward"/> He was also named Player of the Year by the [[Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|Big 12]], [[Sports Illustrated]], [[The Sporting News]] and [[FoxSports.com]]. When combined with [[Sam Bradford]]'s [[Heisman Trophy]], [[Oklahoma Sooners|Oklahoma]] became the first school to have a winner in both top basketball and football individual awards in the same year.
-==NBA career==
-===Los Angeles Clippers (2009-present)===
-[[File:Blake Griffin Clippers cropped.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Griffin in practice with the Clippers in October 2009]]
-====Rookie seasons====
-On April 7, 2009, Griffin announced that he would give up his final two years of eligibility and declared for the NBA Draft after his sophomore year.<ref>Associated Press (April 7, 2009). [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/news/story?id=4048915 OU's Griffin entering NBA draft]. ESPN. Retrieved January 3, 2011.</ref><ref> Associated Press (April 8, 2009). [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/big12/2009-04-07-griffin-draft_N.htm Oklahoma's Griffin leads group of players entering NBA draft]. ''[[USA Today]]''. Retrieved January 3, 2011.</ref> A press conference announcing his decision was aired nationally on ESPNews. He was selected as the first overall pick by the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] in the [[2009 NBA Draft]].<ref name="ESPN - 2009 NBA Draft - Rankings">{{cite web |url=http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/rank?draftyear=2009&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnbadraft%2fdraft%2ftracker%2frank%3fdraftyear%3d2009| title=2009 NBA Draft Prospects: Top 100 |author=Ford, Chad |publisher= [[ESPN]] |accessdate=August 24, 2008}}</ref> Griffin played for the Clippers' Summer League Team and was one of the stars of the tournament, being named Summer League MVP. However, he injured his kneecap in their final preseason game as he landed after a dunk.<ref name="BrokenKneecap">{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4597949| title=Clippers lose Griffin to broken kneecap |author=Associated Press |publisher= [[ESPN]] |accessdate=October 27, 2009}}</ref> The day before the [[2009–10 NBA season|2009–10 season]] started it was confirmed that Griffin had a [[stress fracture]] in his left knee, delaying his NBA debut.<ref name="BrokenKneecap"/> After resting the stress fracture for several weeks, tests revealed that his knee was not recovering properly.<ref name="SeasonEnding">{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=4823032|title=Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin to have season ending surgery|accessdate=January 13, 2010 |author=Sheridan, Chris|publisher=ESPN.com}}</ref> Griffin had surgery on his broken left kneecap and he did not play at all in his rookie season.<ref name="SeasonEnding"/> In the off season Griffin spent a great deal of time working out with a San Francisco-based trainer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blakethebully.com/post/2472483894/blake-griffin-spent-a-great-deal-of-time-with|title=The Rookie: Blake Griffin|accessdate=December 27, 2010 |author=ESPN |publisher=blakethebully.com}}</ref>
-After missing the entire 2009–10 season, Griffin was still considered a rookie during the [[2010-11 NBA season|2010-11 season]].<ref name="">Packham, Drew (July 1, 2010).[http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/07/01/rookie.rankings/index.html Rookie Rankings: Taking a first look at the 2010-11 class]. nba.com. Retrieved January 5, 2011.</ref> On October 27, 2010, Griffin scored 20 points and registered 14 rebounds in his debut for the [[Los Angeles Clippers]].<ref>{{Cite web
- |url= http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/27/sports/la-sp-clippers-blazers-20101028
- |title=Clippers lose opener to Trail Blazers, 98-88, despite a roaring debut for Blake Griffin - Los Angeles Times
- |work=articles.latimes.com
- |accessdate=October 28, 2010
-}}</ref> On November 20, 2010, he recorded a Clippers rookie record for points scored with 44 in a home loss to the [[New York Knicks]].<ref>Lawrence, Mitch (November 21, 2010). [http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2010/11/20/2010-11-20_amare_stoudemire_oneups_blake_griffin_as_knicks_cap_road_trip_with_win_over_los_.html Amar'e Stoudemire one-ups Blake Griffin as Knicks cap road trip with win over Los Angeles Clippers]. ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]''. Retrieved January 4, 2011.</ref> He also added 15 rebounds and 7 assists. Griffin was named the NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month for November and December.<ref name="RookieNovember">Official Release (December 1, 2010).[http://www.nba.com/2010/news/12/01/landry-fields-blake-griffin-rookies-of-month/index.html Knicks' Fields, Clips' Griffin named Rookies of the Month]. nba.com. Retrieved January 3, 2011.</ref><ref name="RookieDecember">Official Release (January 3, 2011).[http://www.nba.com/2011/news/01/03/december-2010-rookies-of-the-month/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2 Fields, Griffin win NBA Rookie honors for December]. nba.com. Retrieved January 3, 2011.</ref> Griffin will participate in the NBA's [[NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest|Sprite Slam Dunk Contest]] on February 19, 2011.<ref>Official Release (January 5, 2011).[http://www.nba.com/2011/news/01/05/sprite-slam-dunk-participants/?ls=iref:nbahpt1 Griffin, Ibaka, Jennings and McGee set for Sprite Slam Dunk]. nba.com. Retrieved January 5, 2011.</ref><ref>Turner, Broderick (January 4, 2011).[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/01/clippers-forward-blake-grizzin-highlights-slam-dunk-contest.html Clippers forward Blake Griffin highlights slam dunk contest]. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Retrieved January 4, 2011.</ref>
-==NBA career statistics==
-{{NBA player statistics legend}}
-''Correct as of January 2, 2011''
-===Regular season===
-{{NBA player statistics start}}
-|-
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[2010–11 NBA season|2010–11]]
-| style="text-align:left;"| [[Los Angeles Clippers|L.A. Clippers]]
-| 34 || 34 || 37.1 || .523 || .667 || .588 || 12.5 || 3.2 || .7 || .6 || 21.7
-|-
-| style="text-align:left;"| Career
-| style="text-align:left;"|
-| 34 || 34 || 37.1 || .523 || .667 || .588 || 12.5 || 3.2 || .7 || .6 || 21.7
-{{End box}}
-==Awards==
-{{Multicol}}
-*[[McDonald's All-American]] (2007)<ref name="bio" />
-*[[Naismith College Player of the Year|Naismith Award]] (2009)
-*[[John Wooden Award]] (2009)
-*McDonald's All-American Dunk Contest Winner (2007)<ref name="bio" />
-*[[Adolph Rupp Trophy]] (2009)<ref>http://newsok.com/article/3355601</ref>
-*[[Oscar Robertson Trophy]] (2009)<ref name="aaa">{{cite news|title=Griffin Wins Oscar Robertson Trophy|url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/033009aaa.html|publisher=SoonerSports.com|date=March 30, 2009|accessdate=July 7, 2009}}</ref>
-*Unanimous AP All American (2009)<ref name="aab">{{cite news|title=Griffin Unanimous AP All-American|url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/033009aab.html|publisher=SoonerSports.com|date=March 30, 2009|accessdate=July 7, 2009}}</ref>
-{{Multicol-break}}
-*Sports Illustrated Player of the Year (2009)<ref>[http://www.newsok.com/ou-mens-basketball-notebook-blake-griffin-named-si.com-player-of-the-year/article/3354501 Blake Griffin named SI.com Player of the Year]. ''Sports Illustrated''. Retrieved on 1 October 2009.</ref>
-*Sporting News Player of the Year (2009)<ref name="newsok">{{cite news|title=Sporting News joins Athlon Sports, FoxSports.com in naming OU's Blake Griffin best player in America|url=http://www.newsok.com/sporting-news-joins-athlon-sports-foxsports.com-in-naming-ous-blake-griffin-best-player-in-america/article/3352636|author=Helsley, John|publisher=NewsOK.com|accessdate=July 7, 2009}}</ref>
-*Athlon Sports Player of the Year (2009)<ref name="newsok" />
-*FoxSports.com Player of the Year (2009)<ref name="newsok" />
-*The Sporting News Player of the Year (2009)<ref name="aab" />
-*Coaches' Big 12 Player of the Year (2009)<ref name="aaa" />
-*[[Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|AP Big 12 Player of the Year]]<ref>[http://www.newsok.com/blake-griffin-unanimous-choice-for-ap-big-12-player-of-the-year/article/3351977 Griffin named Big 12 Player of the Year]. Newsok.com. Retrieved on 1 October 2009.</ref>
-*NBA Western Conference T-Mobile Rookie of the Month - November 2010<ref name="RookieNovember" />
-*NBA Western Conference T-Mobile Rookie of the Month - December 2010<ref name="RookieDecember" />
-{{Multicol-end}}
-==Media==
-Griffin appeared on the cover of ''[[NCAA Basketball 10]]'' video game by [[EA Sports]], and in an advertising campaign for [[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]] restaurants.<ref name="statesman-ea">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=McCarthy |title=Griffin in line for endorsements with Subway, EA Sports |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-06-21-griffin-endorsements_N.htm |work=[[USA TODAY]] |date=June 21, 2009 |accessdate=August 18, 2009 }}</ref>
-==See also==
-* [[2009 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans]]
-*[[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders]]
-==References==
-{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
-==External links==
-{{commonscat}}
-* [http://www.blakegriffin.com/pages/main Official Site]
-* [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/blake_griffin/ Blake Griffin] at NBA.com
-* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3989 Blake Griffin] at [[ESPN.com]]
-{{Navboxes|list1=
-{{2009 NBA Draft}}
-{{NBA NumberOne Draft Picks}}
-{{2009 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans}}
-{{NCAA Division I men's basketball rebounding champion}}
-{{Adolph Rupp Trophy}}
-{{Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year}}
-{{NABC Player of the Year}}
-{{Naismith Player of the Year men}}
-{{Oscar Robertson Trophy}}
-{{Pete Newell Big Man Award}}
-{{Wooden Player of the Year men}}
-{{Sporting News College Men's Basketball Player of the Year}}
-{{Big 12 Men's Basketball Player of the Year}}
-}}
-{{Los Angeles Clippers current roster}}
-{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
-| NAME              = Griffin, Blake
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
-| DATE OF BIRTH     = March 16, 1989
-| PLACE OF BIRTH    = [[Oklahoma City]], [[Oklahoma]]
-| DATE OF DEATH     =
-| PLACE OF DEATH    =
-}}
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffin, Blake}}
-[[Category:1989 births]]
-[[Category:Living people]]
-[[Category:American basketball players]]
-[[Category:African American basketball players]]
-[[Category:Basketball players from Oklahoma]]
-[[Category:Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball players]]
-[[Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans]]
-[[Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)]]
-[[Category:People from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]
-[[Category:Power forwards (basketball)]]
-[[Category:Los Angeles Clippers draft picks]]
-[[Category:Los Angeles Clippers players]]
-[[ca:Blake Griffin]]
-[[de:Blake Griffin]]
-[[es:Blake Griffin]]
-[[fr:Blake Griffin]]
-[[hr:Blake Griffin]]
-[[it:Blake Griffin]]
-[[he:בלייק גריפין]]
-[[lv:Bleiks Grifins]]
-[[lt:Blake Griffin]]
-[[ja:ブレイク・グリフィン]]
-[[no:Blake Griffin]]
-[[pl:Blake Griffin]]
-[[pt:Blake Griffin]]
-[[ru:Гриффин, Блэйк]]
-[[simple:Blake Griffin]]
-[[fi:Blake Griffin]]
-[[sv:Blake Griffin]]
-[[tr:Blake Griffin]]
-[[zh:布莱克·格里芬]]