{"id":154878,"date":"2025-01-10T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-10T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nbaanalysis.net\/?p=134567"},"modified":"2025-01-10T15:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T15:30:00","slug":"blake-griffin-opens-up-on-defining-moment-when-la-clippers-traded-him-months-after-signing-171m-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/10\/blake-griffin-opens-up-on-defining-moment-when-la-clippers-traded-him-months-after-signing-171m-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"Blake Griffin opens up on \u2018defining moment\u2019 when LA Clippers traded him months after signing $171m deal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blake Griffin entered free agency for the first time in 2017 and it gave him a reality check.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a draft class that featured the likes of Stephen Curry<\/a>, James Harden<\/a>, and DeMar DeRozan<\/a>, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft was Blake Griffin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Clippers<\/a> trusted the high-flying forward with the top pick as they entered the ‘Lob City’ era with Griffin, Chris Paul<\/a>, and DeAndre Jordan forming amazing chemistry.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to the summer of 2017, the era was over with CP3’s departure to the Houston Rockets<\/a>. While Griffin signed a humongous extension with the organization, he was given a brutal reality check just six months later.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Blake<\/div>
Photo by Mike Ehrmann\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Blake Griffin on LA Clippers trading him to Detroit Pistons<\/h2>\n

By the summer of 2017, it was obvious that the ‘Lob City’ Clippers wouldn’t win an NBA Championship. Injuries during key moments in the postseason was the biggest reason behind the front office ending the experiment.<\/p>\n

However, when they offered Griffin a five-year, $171 million contract extension, most expected the veteran forward to remain a focal point in the future, but he was soon traded to the Detroit Pistons<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“My first true free agency where I had a decision, I chose to go back to the Clippers, then six months later I was in Detroit. I look back on it people are like ‘That must have been awful,’ Nah,” Griffin said.<\/p>\n

“It was a very defining moment for me in my career to be away from that. To show people that I’m playing 75 games, playing as much as I possibly can, I’m playing as hard as I can. <\/p>\n

“I\u2019m trying to take that team to the playoffs. It was a proud moment for me,” he added.<\/p>\n

By the time the Clippers parted ways with Griffin, many believed that he was already out of prime. But Blake proved his doubters wrong during his time in Detroit.<\/p>\n

In fact, he played out of his mind in the 2018-19 NBA season, leading the Pistons to a playoff berth. On top of that, Griffin also became an NBA All-Star for the first time since the 2014-15 season.<\/p>\n