All-Time Team Starting Power Forward: Blake Griffin
You could argue that both Blake Griffin and Elton Brand deserve to be the Clippers’ All-Time team starting power forward, but Griffin gets the nod since he has already passed Brand in total points and will likely pass him in minutes played and total rebounds in the 2017 NBA season. When healthy, Griffin is one of the most versatile players in the league. The forward can score in multiple ways, pass and handle the ball as good as most point guards, and has even added a reliable perimeter shot to his arsenal. In his 2010 rookie season with the Clippers, Griffin was selected to the All-Star team, won the Slam Dunk Contest, and was awarded the NBA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the floor.
While injuries have drained some of the lift that Griffin once used to throw down poster dunks on the regular, the five-time All-Star has found other ways to improve his game, shooting a career high 76 percent from the free throw line and attempting a career high 1.9 three-pointers per game in the 2016-2017 season. Still on the upclimb of his career at just 28-years-old, Griffin has been named to four All-NBA Teams and helped the Clippers qualify for the post season in every season since his rookie year. Griffin is also the holder of the fifth spot on the franchise’s total assist list among all of the respectable point guards that the team has had.
Griffin has been the face of the Clippers since the team drafted him in 2009 and is probably the first player that fans think of when they hear the team’s name. Barring any significant injuries, Griffin should pass Randy Smith and become the franchise’s leading points holder in the next two seasons, only trailing by 2,618 points. The forward could also be one of the dark horse candidates for 2018 NBA MVP if he can stay healthy and lead the Clippers to the post season once again.
Reminisce about the dunk-everything-version of Blake while watching this compilation of Griffin’s best dunks: