Blake Griffin reacts after teammates pour water on his head after the Detroit Pistons won in his debut, 104-102, over the Memphis Grizzlies at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018. (Photo: Leon Halip, Getty Images)
The Pistons got a serious upgrade in star power on Monday when they acquired forward Blake Griffin from the Clippers. Free Press sports writer Ryan Ford takes a look at the superstar’s career to date (all stats entering Saturday):
Blake Griffin scored 24 points in his debut with the Pistons on Thursday. (Photo: Leon Halip/Getty Images)
The big paycheck
Griffin’s contract features the sixth-highest average annual salary in the NBA (including future extensions). The top 10:
James Harden: $42.336 million
John Wall: $42.336 million
Russell Westbrook: $41.006 million
Stephen Curry: $40.232 million
Andrew Wiggins: $36.613 million
Blake Griffin: $34.235 million
Kyle Lowry: $33.333 million
LeBron James: $33.286 million
Gordon Hayward: $31.957 million
Mike Conley: $30.521 million
Blake Griffin from the L.A. Clippers slam dunks over a car with teammate Baron Davis inside, before winning the All-Stars Slam Dunk contest at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 19, 2011. The event took place ahead of Sunday's 60th NBA All-Star Game showdown between Eastern and Western conference superstars at Los Angeles on February 20. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images) (Photo: MARK RALSTON, AFP/Getty Images)
Award show
Griffin has a fairly full trophy case through nine seasons in the NBA. His major honors:
► 2010-11 Rookie of the Year
► 2010-11 All-Rookie First Team
► 2011 NBA All-Star
► 2011 NBA Slam Dunk champion
► 2011-12 All-NBA Second Team
► 2012 NBA All-Star
► 2012-13 All-NBA Second Team
► 2013 NBA All-Star
► 2013-14 All-NBA Second Team
► 2014 NBA All-Star
► 2014-15 All-NBA Third Team
► 2015 NBA All-Star
FILE- In this March 16, 2014, file photo, Los Angeles Clippers', from left, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan confer on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) (Photo: Jae C. Hong, AP)
Balanced attack
Griffin is always a threat to score, but he’s also a strong rebounder and passer. He’s one of six players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists per game. The list with their averages:
1959-72: Elgin Baylor
Points: 27.4.
Rebounds: 13.5.
Assists: 4.3.
1980-92: Larry Bird
Points: 24.3.
Rebounds: 10.0.
Assists: 6.3.
1960-73: Wilt Chamberlain
Points: 30.1.
Rebounds: 22.9.
Assists: 4.4.
1966-76: Billy Cunningham
Points: 20.8.
Rebounds: 10.1.
Assists: 4.0.
2011-18: Blake Griffin
Points: 21.6.
Rebounds: 9.3.
Assists: 4.2.
1994-2008: Chris Webber
Points: 20.7.
Rebounds: 9.8.
Assists: 4.2.
Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin makes a shot against Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, left, and forward JaMychal Green during the second half at Little Caesars Arena, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018. (Photo: Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)
Triple-double threat
Griffin has recorded seven regular season triple-doubles in his NBA career, good for 13th since the start of the 2010-11 season. The games:
March 23, 2011
Clippers 127, Wizards 119: Griffin scored 33 points and dished out 10 assists, buthe dominated on the boards, pulling down 17 rebounds.
April 13, 2011
Clippers 110, Grizzlies 103: Griffin broke the 30-point mark again against the Griz, scoring 31, but he had just 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
March 6, 2013
Clippers 117, Bucks 101: Griffin needed just 33 minutes – and 14 shot attempts – to put up 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
April 3, 2014
Mavericks 113, Clippers 107: Griffin shot just 39.1 percent from the field, but scored 25 poiints and added 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
Feb. 6, 2017
Raptors 118, Clippers 109: In his first road triple-double, Griffin scored 26 points in Toronto and had 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
Nov. 22, 2017
Clippers 116, Hawks 103: Griffin chucked up eight three-point attempts (making three) on his way to 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Jan. 22, 2018
Timberwolves 126, Clippers 118: Griffin hit 61.9 percent of his field-goal attempts to score 32 points, and add 11 rebounds and 12 assists.