Clippers' Forward Blake Griffin Continues to Pound and Ground
So how's a 6'10", 251-pound rookie with an NBA All-Star experience already under his belt and record setting season-high stats supposed to keep it real? (Did we mention his two-hand dunk over the hood of an automobile?)
His roots, for starters.
Homeschooled alongside his brother, Blake Griffin, the #32 forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, has been grounded and focused starting from a young age.
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The Griffins come from a strong Christian background, with his father and coach unashamed in their profession of faith.
"Homeschool helped them a lot," his father, Tommy, told The Kansas City Star. "Because it gave them a foundation. We've deviated (in America) from our past to where we are right now. Here's a nation founded on the opportunity for freedom of religion, and every time you look around, there's people saying God has to be taken out of this, out of this."
Providing the boys with a firm foundation until middle school, Griffin began attending Oklahoma Christian School where he and his brother, under the direction of their father, led the Oklahoma Saints to a 106-6 overall record.
Griffin recalled to the New York Post watching games on TV with his father who emphasized the importance of teamwork. "My father taught me how to become multi dimensional, to be more than just a scorer, rebounder and passer. He taught me how to make my teammates better."
Both brothers, under the watchful eyes of their parents, worked extremely hard and never let fame get to the game.
Their trainer, Frank Matrisciano, witnessed a humble and eager spirit when the Griffins would arrive to the workouts, even through all the extreme sand hill run-ups and organic diets.
Matrisciano told USAToday "that foundation is the important thing with Blake and Taylor."
"Griffin complains little during workouts and gets through the tough stuff by reminding himself the ultimate goal is to become the ultimate player."
Their father would not allow the boys to brag about their athletic exploits.
Together, both brothers went on to play for the University of Oklahoma Sooners, with Blake winning the Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year, the John Wooden Award, and numerous other prestigious awards as a sophomore.
He was the most sought out player and the number one NBA draft pick in 2009. And the Clippers, with the miracle golden ticket, won the lottery and earned the right to draft the younger Griffin. Things were starting to look up for the Clippers.
But the day before the 2009-10 NBA season was set to begin, a kneecap stress fracture pulled Griffin out of the entire rookie season.
"I was just excited about the opportunity to play in the NBA," he told Stephen Copeland, of the NBA. "I was ready to go, but everything came crashing down, so to speak. But these things happen. That was God's way of just humbling me."
Like his father, Griffin realized that God's plans always triumph his own. Although it tortured him not to be playing alongside his teammates, he learned to stay positive.
"It was so frustrating, but at the same time, I know everything happens for a reason," he said to Copeland. "I don't know what the reason is, but only God knows. I just have to wait and let his plan unveil."
And unveil they have. Leading the Clippers with nine consecutive wins at home so far this season, the longest streak they've had since 1984, Blake continues to work hard – always the first on the court and the last to leave – and woo the long-awaiting Clipper crowd with his gravity-defying dunks.
For every dunk he makes, $100 is donated to fight childhood obesity. Just this season alone, he has made 137 dunks or $13,700 and counting.
"When you have an opportunity to get a character guy like Blake, you build around that and you create a culture that emphasizes people like him," Neil Olshey, the general manager for the Clippers stated, according to ESPN.
Though Griffin is setting record highs this "rookie" season and is flooding the ESPN highlights with every game, his status isn't changing the kind of player he is.
"God blessed him with a lot of ability, and he knows that," his big brother told ESPN.
