Blake Griffin, the six-time NBA All-Star, recently shared his decision not to return to the Boston Celtics during an appearance on 7PM in Brooklyn, a Wave Sports + Entertainment Original, hosted by Carmelo Anthony. Griffin opened up about the toll of multiple surgeries, his declining physical performance, and how these factors led him to retire from basketball.
“I had nine surgeries in my career. Every surgery, it takes a little bit longer to get back from,” Griffin said. “My last one was a noticeable step back. I step on the court, and I can’t do the things I want to do. It takes a toll.” Griffin revealed that even though basketball remained his greatest passion, his inability to perform at the level he once did made the decision to walk away inevitable. “Once I get to that point, it’s time,” he added.
During his lone season with the Celtics, Griffin embraced his role as a veteran leader while forming a strong connection with his teammates. “Boston though, man, I loved Boston. I love those guys,” he shared. He also praised the unique fan culture in Boston, which he said stood out from his experiences in Los Angeles and New York. “That was the first time I really played for a team where it was like, everybody in that city is rocking with you.”
Griffin reflected on the welcoming atmosphere in Boston, even sharing a humorous anecdote about local hospitality. “I went out to dinner 10 times, no check. You know what I mean? In Boston, like I said, I’m paying every five,” he joked.
Despite his affection for the Celtics and their fanbase, Griffin acknowledged that his physical limitations prevented him from continuing. “Basketball is the thing that I love the most in this world, but when you can’t do it at the same level or even a fraction of the level you want, it becomes harder,” he said.
Griffin also spoke about the adjustments he made throughout his career to stay competitive. Known early on as an explosive dunker, he transitioned into a reliable shooter later in his career. “Day one, I hired a shooting coach after my first season and completely retooled my shot,” he explained. “It took time, but I put that time in. Looking back, I’m glad I did it. Otherwise, I would’ve been forced out five years earlier.”
He admitted that early in his career, criticism weighed heavily on him, but he eventually learned to take it in stride. “At the beginning of my career, I wanted to prove them wrong so bad,” he said. “Now, I’m comfortable, I’m good. I know who I am, and I can hear a critique and be like, all right, that’s fair.”
Griffin also shared the story behind his decision to wear jersey number 91 with the Celtics. “I was scrambling for numbers. Somebody was like, what about 91? I’m like, you know what, f*ck it. I stand by 91,” he said, laughing.
Though his time with Boston was brief, Griffin expressed happiness for his former teammates after their 2024 championship win. “I was so happy for them when they won,” he said.
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