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After an illustrious 13-year career that left an indelible mark on the NBA, Blake Griffin has decided to hang up his sneakers. Known for his high-flying dunks and dynamic presence on the court, Griffin's journey through professional basketball has been nothing short of spectacular. From his early days as a promising talent with the Los Angeles Clippers, Griffin, alongside Chris Paul, turned the team into a highlight factory affectionately known as Lob City. Their on-court chemistry redefined alley-oop dunks, making every Clippers game a must-watch event.
Griffin’s aerial prowess was not limited to game time; he also shined brightly on the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest stage. His unforgettable performance featured him leaping over a Kia Optima, clinching the title, and securing his place in dunk contest lore. Beyond his athletic feats, Griffin was also a notable figure in the sneaker world. As a Jordan Brand athlete since 2012, he was instrumental in launching and designing models like the Jordan Super.Fly 3, and was given player-exclusive colorways of multiple Jordan models.
With Griffin no longer taking the NBA court, we've decided to delve into his sneaker legacy of Blake Griffin, reflecting on the moments where his standout footwear matched his on-court brilliance.
Debut Game - Nike Hyperdunk Elite PE
In his debut game against the Trail Blazers, Griffin scored his first points fittingly with a slam dunk from an alley-oop. On his feet was an exclusive colorway of the Nike Hyperdunk Elite in colors that matched the Clippers' home uniform.
2011 Dunk Contest - Nike Air Max Fly PE
Arguably one of the most memorable moments in the NBA in the 2010s, Blake Griffin made headlines and secured his first and only victory at the Slam Dunk contest when he jumped over a Kia Optima. Griffin was sporting a PE colorway of the Air Max Fly during this iconic moment.
Blake Griffin Signing With Jordan Brand
After 3 years with Nike Basketball, Blake Griffin inked a shoe contract with Jordan Brand in November 2012. In high-flying fashion, Griffin recreated Michael Jordan's iconic Jumpman pose during pre-game warmups for the Clippers' bout with Miami's Big Three on November 14th, 2012. Blake wore a PE edition of the Jordan Super.Fly.
Blake Griffin's Jordan Super.Fly 2 Blake And Drain Commercial
To promote Jordan Brand's Super.Fly 2, Blake Griffin and Jordan Brand teamed up for the classic Blake and Drain commercial spot. The fictional character Dr. Drain joins Blake for a pickup game, and his hilariously bad shooting complements Blake's Lob City-esque dunking ability. Throughout the commercial, Dr. Drain continuously shoots terrible shots, and Blake capitalizes on them with his signature monstrous dunks.
Air Jordan 11 Retro OU PE
Jordan Brand never collaborates on the Jordan 11 and rarely gives athletes their own colorway on the sneaker. However, according to sneaker collector Puneet Singh, Michael Jordan, Blake Griffin, and others were betting, and MJ lost, giving those who won their own colorway on the Jordan 11. Griffin celebrated his alma mater of Oklahoma with his Jordan 11 and sported the pair multiple times. Blake Griffin's OU PE was so popular that Jordan Brand went on to give us something similar with the Jordan 11 Cherry.
Blake's Jordan Super.Fly 5 Just 5 Custom
Blake Griffin wore a pair of custom Jordan Super.Fly 5s that were co-designed by 11-year-old Justice Griffith, a leukemia patient at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, in 2017 in his game against the Washington Wizards. Justice was in attendance, and Blake went on to auction a pair off to support Children's Hospital of Los Angeles' Make March Matter campaign.
Air Jordan 35 PE The McGriffins
Blake Griffin and a handful of Jordan Brand athletes were given their own colorways of the Air Jordan 35 when the model was rolling out in 2021. For his most famous PE on the sneaker, Blake took inspiration from the comedy classic Super Bad, specifically the character McLovin’ who gets a fake ID in the film. This Hawaii ID is placed on the tongue with Griffin's photo and information present.
Highest Scoring Game - Jordan Superfly MVP PE
Griffin’s highest-scoring game in his career came against the 76ers in 2019, when he dropped a 50-point bomb. During the game, he wore a Jordan Super.Fly MVP PE in colors that matched his Pistons uniform.
Last NBA Appearance - Air Jordan 37 Bordeaux
While today marks his official retirement from the NBA, Griffin’s latest appearance in the NBA took place on April 25, 2023, when the Boston Celtics lost in Game 5 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Blake only recorded two rebounds during this game, but he did so in the Air Jordan 37 Bordeaux.
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Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
