Celebrate Blake Griffin's 26th birthday with some rare photos

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.

Rare Photos of Blake Griffin

1991

Courtesy of the Griffin Family

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

Courtesy of the Griffin Family

Blake Griffin (right) and older brother Taylor at ages 5 and 8. Multi-sport stars.

2004

Courtesy of the Griffin Family

Blake Griffin (right) and older brother Taylor at ages 14 and 17.

2006

AJ Mast/Icon SMI

Oklahoma Christian School product Blake Griffin intimidates at the Nike All-American Camp in Indianapolis.

2006

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Blake Griffin cuts through the lane for an easy basket at Nike Peach Jam.

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Blake Griffin just chilling on the steps at Nike Peach Jam.

2006

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Blake Griffin, doing his thing at Nike Peach Jam.

2007

Henny Ray Abrams/AP

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

AP

Teammates Taylor and Blake Griffin get loose before an Oklahoma practice.

2008

Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated

Blake Griffin and then Oklahoma women's star Courtney Paris pose (awkwardly) for SI's 2008 college basketball preview cover.

2009

Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Some in-your-face Blake Griffin action.

2009

AP

Blake Griffin partakes in a round of hoops with Subway spokesman, Jared? Sure, why not?

2009

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Blake Griffin channels his inner Clayton Kershaw.

2011

Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated

You know this Blake Griffin dunk well, but have you seen the composite of every frame? Pretty great, right?

2011

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

An overhead view of one of Blake Griffin's dunks during the All-Star Slam Dunk contest.

2011

David Rojas/Getty Images

Blake Griffin, on a beach. Yeah, he must workout.

2011

AP

Blake Griffin gets his Rookie of the Year trophy polished during a photo shoot.

2011

AP

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

AP

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

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Blake Griffin poses with Elmo during a guest appearance on Sesame Street.

2012

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

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

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

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

Jesse Grant/WireImage

Blake Griffin bowls during the Chris Paul PBA League All-Stars Invitational Bowling Tournament at Lucky Strike Lanes in L.A.

2014

Noel Vasquez/GC Images

Blake Griffin Jesse Jackson before a Clippers-Warriors playoff game in L.A.

2014

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Blake Griffin smiles alongside teammate Hedo Turkoglu after being pulled during a preseason game against the Warriors in L.A.

2015

GONZALO/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Blake Griffin squeegees the windshield of his Tesla at a gas station in L.A. Not above going to self service.

2015

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

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