Blake Griffin

American basketball player who dominated college basketball at Oklahoma, winning the Naismith Award and becoming the 2009 first overall NBA draft pick.

Blake Austin Griffin was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1989. He attended the University of Oklahoma and won the Naismith Award as national player of the year in 2009 after two seasons. He averaged 22.7 points and 14.7 rebounds per game — one of the highest combined averages in Big 12 history. He was a two-time consensus All-American and two-time Big 12 Player of the Year. His combination of athleticism — the explosive dunking ability that would define his early professional career — with consistent rebounding and interior scoring made him the most projected prospect since LeBron James by many analysts. Los Angeles Clippers selected him first overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. He then missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, returning in 2010-11 to win the Rookie of the Year award and the Slam Dunk Contest. His Oklahoma career — two years of dominance, one Naismith Award — established him as one of the most physically gifted big men college basketball had produced. His performances in front of home fans at Oklahoma — where his family had deep roots — created some of the most electric college basketball moments of the 2008-09 season.

Griffin was known for his exceptional athleticism, combining rare leaping ability with surprising agility for his 6'10" frame. He dominated around the basket with powerful dunks and strong rebounding, while also developing a reliable mid-range jump shot and ball-handling skills unusual for a power forward.

Griffin revolutionized the power forward position by combining traditional big man skills with guard-like athleticism and versatility, influencing a generation of players to develop more complete skill sets.

• Naismith Award (2009)
• Big 12 Player of Year 2x
• Consensus All-American 2x
• First overall pick 2009