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Former Detroit Pistons All-Star Announces NBA Retirement

Blake Griffin officially announces his retirement.
Justin Grasso|
Feb 9, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) dribbles the ball
Feb 9, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) dribbles the ball | Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

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Detroit Pistons

Before the playoffs get underway, a former Detroit Pistons All-Star announced their retirement from the NBA. After playing in the league for 13 seasons, Blake Griffin has decided to hang it up for good. The longtime LA Clippers forward made a heartfelt post on social media to announce his decision.

Griffin was the first overall pick by the Clippers in 2009. He’d go on to spend eight seasons with the franchise before getting to the Pistons. During the 2017-18 season, Detroit made a big splash by acquiring Griffin in a blockbuster trade.

After being traded to the Pistons, Griffin would spend four years in Detroit. Things would not end up going as planned as injuries started to derail his career. Griffin played 75 games in his first full season with the Pistons, and then would play in just 38 games over the next two years.

Griffin landed the final All-Star nomination of his career with the Pistons. In 2019, he averaged 24.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 5.4 APG. Detroit ended up making the playoffs that year and have not been back since.

In March of 2021, the Pistons decided to cut ties with Griffin and waived him. He’d have stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics after before being out of the league.

Griffin ends his career with averages of 19.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 4.0 APG. His list of accolades includes being a six-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, Rookie of the Year, and being named to an All-Rookie team.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia

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