Blake Griffin
A high-flying power forward whose thunderous dunks revitalized a moribund franchise and redefined highlight-reel athleticism for a generation.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American basketball player·Birthday: March 16·Millennials
Biography
Blake Griffin entered the NBA with a sonic boom. The first overall pick in 2009, he missed his initial season to injury, but his rookie year was an explosive announcement. Playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, a team long synonymous with failure, Griffin unleashed a nightly barrage of aerial assaults that made him must-watch television. His gravity-defying dunks over defenders became iconic, and he paired that raw power with a developing playmaking skill that surprised many. Alongside Chris Paul, he engineered 'Lob City,' turning the Clippers into a perennial playoff team and a global brand. Later in his career, after a trade to Detroit, Griffin reinvented his game, adding a reliable three-point shot to prove he was more than just leaping ability. His journey is one of spectacular physical gifts tempered by basketball intelligence and adaptation.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Blake was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Blake Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Blake's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2011 after averaging 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game.
- Was selected as an NBA All-Star six times, representing the Los Angeles Clippers and Detroit Pistons.
- Led the Oklahoma Sooners to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in 2009 and won every major National Player of the Year award.
- Won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2011 by jumping over a car.
Did You Know?
He was a talented football player in high school and was recruited by some colleges as a tight end.
He is the son of a basketball coach and a teacher.
He hosted the NBA Awards show in 2021.
“I've always tried to play the right way. I've tried to be a good teammate, play unselfishly, play hard.”
