--- title: "NBA All-Star Blake Griffin Ends 14-Year Career" url: https://newscentral.site/nba-all-star-blake-griffin-ends-14-year-career/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Style" published: 2026-11-10T19:23:11.000Z updated: 2026-11-11T04:52:38.507Z id: 2882a9ab-9f6a-4318-a43a-3d942955258d source: "GQ https://www.gq.com/story/blake-griffin-one-more-question" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/nba-all-star-blake-griffin-ends-14-year-career/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # NBA All-Star Blake Griffin Ends 14-Year Career Blake Griffin has ended his 14-year NBA playing career after spending many years with the Clippers, he is now hosting his own show The Stepback with Blake Griffin and appearing on the studio show for NBA on Prime. Blake Griffin, a former NBA All-Star, ended his 14-year playing career in 2024 after spending many years with the Clippers. He has since ventured into broadcasting, hosting his own show, The Stepback with Blake Griffin, and appearing on the studio show for NBA on Prime every week. Griffin believes that players are unfairly scrutinized by the media, a sentiment he explores on his show. He points out that it's an extremely difficult job, one that 400-something other guys have managed to do. On The Stepback, Griffin trades in his basketball gear for a suit and tie, sitting behind a desk to discuss topics like taxpayer-financed stadiums and the rising costs of youth sports. The show has been praised for its unique blend of humor, insight, and entertainment value. Griffin's on-screen presence is surprisingly natural, making him an engaging host. As part of his broadcasting gig with NBA on Prime, Griffin joins other studio hosts to discuss various basketball-related topics. Griffin has also been open about his life off the court, including a recent conversation where he discussed his childhood home and early days as an NBA player. Blake Griffin's early days in Los Angeles were marked by culture shock and growing pains. The 19-year-old rookie had just been drafted into the NBA and was adjusting to life in a new city after moving from Oklahoma. A particularly memorable experience during this time was when he met Donald Sterling, then owner of the Clippers, at a party at his house. Griffin has spoken about how Sterling would take him by the hand and introduce him to guests, creating an unusual dynamic between them. The encounter left a lasting impression on Griffin, who recalls feeling like time had slowed down during their interactions. He estimates that they spent around an hour walking through the party together, although he admits it could have felt longer or shorter in reality. As a young player from Oklahoma adjusting to life in LA, Griffin faced significant culture shock. Despite being surrounded by the glamour of Hollywood, his primary focus was on his basketball career and getting settled into his new surroundings. Griffin's apartment, practice facility, and airport became his main priorities during this period, giving him time to adjust to his new environment without feeling overwhelmed. He credits this focused approach with helping him grow up quickly in a city that can be overwhelming for newcomers. In hindsight, Griffin has said he would not ask the same question about his experience meeting Sterling today. However, at the time, it was an important part of his development as a young player navigating the complexities of professional basketball and life in LA. Griffin's conversation with the journalist who asked him about this experience highlights the growth and maturity that has taken place since then. He now looks back on those early days with a sense of perspective and appreciation for how far he has come. Blake Griffin's decision to leave basketball behind was far from clear-cut, and he now concedes that his previous statements on the matter were somewhat misleading. In hindsight, Griffin acknowledges that he was indeed intrigued by the idea of working in television, particularly with Amazon's acquisition of NBA TV rights, which offered a fresh approach to covering the sport. This new direction sparked Griffin's interest, as he felt there was an opportunity to focus more on analysis and discussion rather than simply criticizing players after their performances. Griffin highlights that being part of the NBA is not just about playing; it's a challenging job with over 400 individuals involved, each bringing their own unique perspective to the table. As a former player, Griffin notes that he had to learn how to approach discussions about his peers and teammates in a way that was constructive rather than critical, drawing from his everyday conversations outside of basketball. Griffin emphasizes that his goal is not to tear down players who are struggling but instead to provide helpful insights on what they could have done differently or what they did well despite their performance. In Griffin's opinion, television analysis should be about guiding viewers through the intricacies of the game rather than simply focusing on the negatives. The weight of being a former professional basketball player is a heavy one, especially when it comes to offering analysis on the sport. It's easy to get caught up in negative discussions about how things were done back in the day, but that's not what viewers tune in for. In Griffin's opinion, television analysis should be about guiding viewers through the intricacies of the game rather than simply focusing on the negatives. He believes that his role as a commentator is to provide insight into the current state of basketball, not to dwell on past shortcomings. Griffin has had his share of criticism from fellow commentators like Charles Barkley in the past. However, he maintains that their disagreements are part of what makes television analysis interesting. It's not about being right or wrong, but rather about presenting different perspectives and opinions. When asked if his views have changed since becoming a former player, Griffin replied that he still sees things from the same vantage point. He believes that it's essential to adapt to the changing landscape of the game and avoid becoming jaded or biased in one's analysis. Griffin emphasizes the importance of staying informed about the current state of basketball by engaging with coaches, general managers, and other experts. This allows him to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments, ensuring that his commentary remains relevant and accurate. As for his relationship with Charles Barkley, Griffin has nothing but praise for their friendship. The two have put their past disagreements behind them and now enjoy each other's company both on and off the airwaves. Griffin acknowledges that he wasn't always receptive to Barkley's criticism in the past, but after spending time with him, he gained a new appreciation for his colleague's perspective. He believes that it's perfectly fine for commentators to have different styles and opinions, as long as they're coming from a place of honesty and integrity. In Griffin's view, television analysis should be about providing insight into the game today, not dwelling on past transgressions or perceived injustices. By staying informed and adapting to the changing landscape of basketball, he aims to deliver commentary that is informative, engaging, and respectful of all involved. As a seasoned commentator, he understands that criticism is an inevitable part of the game. However, he believes that being critical doesn't mean you have to change who you are as a player. Instead, he advocates for staying true to your strengths and building upon them. For him, it's about recognizing that there will always be players who remind him of himself, with their athleticism and dunking ability. He cautions against comparing them too closely to oneself, as this can lead to frustration and a loss of focus on one's own game. His advice to young players in transition is to continue developing new skills while still relying on the qualities that made them successful in the first place. By doing so, they can create opportunities for themselves and force opponents to adapt their defensive strategies. This approach allows him to "use his athleticism" and get to the rim, putting pressure on the defense and creating space for other aspects of his game to flourish. He emphasizes the importance of staying grounded and not letting external criticism dictate one's approach to the game. As a commentator, he acknowledges that it can be difficult to tune out negative comments and stay focused on his own analysis. However, he tries to avoid reading tweets or mentions during the season, recognizing that this can be a distraction from his primary goal of providing insightful commentary. Despite his best efforts, he still finds himself drawn into discussions about the game, particularly when watching sports and hearing opinions from others. He admits that it's hard not to take some of these comments personally, especially given his own experiences as a player. As he watches the game now, he sees things differently than he did during his playing days. As a commentator, he's able to focus on broader strategic aspects of the game, rather than just individual player tendencies and matchups. Watching a basketball game is not just about observing individual player tendencies and matchups, but also about analyzing the broader strategic aspects of the game. This involves studying how teams run different sets and adjusting their tactics accordingly. As an analyst, one must consider multiple factors, including what worked well in previous games and what could be improved upon. This requires a more all-encompassing approach than simply watching the game from a player's perspective. When viewing a game as a player, the focus is often on specific events or incidents that occurred during the match. However, when analyzing the game, one must consider the larger narrative of the game and how different factors contribute to its outcome. The transition from playing basketball professionally to analyzing it can be significant for individuals like Blake Griffin. As he noted in a previous conversation, 15 years is often considered a great career span for an NBA player, but he actually retired at 34, one year shy of that mark. Griffin's decision to retire was influenced by various factors, including his personal life and the physical toll of playing professional basketball. He mentioned that being away from his family, particularly his children who were in school in Los Angeles, was a significant challenge. As he looked back on his career, Griffin acknowledged that his last few years in Detroit, Brooklyn, and Boston took a heavy toll on him. The constant travel and injuries he suffered made it increasingly difficult to maintain the level of performance required at the professional level. Ultimately, Griffin's decision to retire was driven by a desire to walk away from the physical and emotional demands of playing basketball. He felt that it was time to prioritize his personal life and well-being over the sport that had consumed him for so long. --- Source: [GQ](https://www.gq.com/story/blake-griffin-one-more-question) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/nba-all-star-blake-griffin-ends-14-year-career/