With news of Blake Griffin‘s inevitable departure, he has played his last game for the Detroit Pistons.
This past week, news broke from multiple sources that Blake Griffin and the franchise had agreed that he will be out of the lineup until the team and his representation can work on a resolution for his future.
The Blake Griffin era will end with a trade or more likely a buyout. It is assumed that he will look to land on a contender, in hopes to compete for a championship as he gets older.
It is now time to begin looking back at Blake’s time in Detroit with clearer glasses, this time lined with hindsight.
This begs the question: would Blake Griffin make the Pistons’ all-time starting five?
At first reaction, my hypothesis is “no”. Although Blake came to Detroit as a bonafide star, he simply didn’t have a long enough tenure with the team, and didn’t remain healthy enough, to be considered in the top five Pistons of all-time.
I will say this— Blake came to Detroit and was nothing but professional. He laid his body on the line every season, immediately embracing the culture of the city. It is for this reason, we owe it to Blake to take a closer look at this question.
A big picture look at Blake Griffin’s tenure with the Detroit Pistons
After being acquired by the Pistons at the 2018 trade deadline, Blake Griffin immediately went to work.
The move from Hollywood to Detroit did nothing to Blake’s spirit. In fact, he came in refreshed and ready to go. He played the remaining 25 games, averaging 19.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and 6.2 apg.
The following season, 2018-2019, is the biggest argument for Blake Griffin on the Pistons all-time starting five. He appeared in 75 games, playing arguably the best basketball of his career.
He averaged 24.5 ppg, 5.4 apg, and 7.5 rpg on .532 eFG%. The biggest improvement in his game was his expanded shooting range, attempting seven threes per game and shooting 36 percent from behind the arc.
Looking back, this may be the most impressive season by a Pistons’ player in the last decade. Blake was named to the All-Star team and was voted All-NBA third team, something that hadn’t happened since Andre Dummond in 2016 and before that, Chauncey Billups in 2009.
It is widely believed that if the Pistons had won a few more games that season, Blake Griffin would have been in the MVP conversation.
The biggest highlight of the 18-19 season was Blake’s 50 point game versus the 76ers in October. This scoring barrage marked a career high for Blake and the sixth highest scoring game by a player in a Pistons’ uniform.
Reminiscent of his entire tenure with the franchise, Blake’s body didn’t hold up as the season came to a close and the Pistons lost in the playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks in four games (Griffin only appearing in two of them).
Despite the sweep, Blake earned the love of the city by toughing it out in the last two games, eventually earning a standing ovation from the fans.
Unfortunately, the next two seasons for were filled multiple lower-body injuries and setbacks.
Blake has only appeared in 38 games since the legendary 18-19 season. His numbers have seen a dip as well, with his points per game this season dropping all the way to 12.3
It is tough to blame him for this drop in production as his body just hasn’t held up.
As quick as he arrived in Detroit, it looks like Blake Griffin’s days here are numbered. By the time he is moved, he will have appeared in 138 games for the team and only two playoff games.
So how does Blake Griffin stack up all time for the Detroit Pistons?
In his 138 regular season games, Blake scored almost 3,000 points for the Pistons. He will finish with averages of 20.7 ppg, 5.0 apg, and 6.7 rpg.
Although his fit with the team and Andre Drummond, was questionable from the beginning, he found a way to post numbers that cracked some notable top ten’s for the Pistons all-time.
Blake’s 189 3-pointers made in 18-19 season rank as the second most three’s made in a season by a Piston, finishing only two behind Allan Houston in 95-96.
In that same season, Blake scored 1841 points, clocking in at 10th all-time for points in a season by a Pistons player.
We know that Blake’s 2018-2019 was legendary, but it pales in comparison to some of the all-time great single seasons in Detroit.
The highest scoring Pistons’ season belongs to Jerry Stackhouse, with Grant Hill, Dave Bing, and Isiah Thomas rounding out the top spots.
Dennis Rodman holds most single season rebounding records for the franchise. Ben Wallace owns most of the defensive categories. Chauncey Billups and Grant Hill hold top spots in win shares, offensive rating, and PER.
For the sake of this arguement, career numbers are hardly worth noting as many Pistons’ greats spent over a decade with the team, playing long into the playoffs and winning championships.
Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas own most of the career offensive records for the team. Bill Laimbeer owns the rebounding titles, even though Andre Drummond was just a few seasons away from surpassing those numbers.
Looking at it as a whole, it is nearly impossible to argue Blake Griffin for a spot in the all-time starting five. The Pistons just have too many great players in their past. I mean, 19 hall-of-famers have played for the franchise, many earning their legacy in Detroit red, white, and blue.
The all-time backcourt is locked as Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars. Although, some of the younger fans may argue Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton over Dumars. This even goes without mentioning other great guards like Dave Bing and Jerry Stackhouse.
For a strong as the all-time Pistons’ backcourt is, the frontcourt isn’t far behind. Blake Griffin has to compete with Grant Hill, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, Dave DuBusschere, Bob Lanier, and even Andre Drummond.
Even beloved Detroit Pistons such as Rick Mahorn and Tayshaun Prince belong in the mix.
Simply put, there are two types of all-time Pistons: one’s that won championships in Detroit and one’s that didn’t. Blake belongs in the latter.
He will never be held up as high as members of the 1989, 1990, or 2004 championship teams, but he fits right in with the likes of Jerry Stackhouse, Grant Hill, and Andre Drummond.
The Verdict: Blake Griffin is an all-timer for the Detroit Pistons, but doesn’t sniff the starting five
Looking at all of the names, it is tough to put Blake Griffin in the all-time starting five. He emphatically belongs on the all-time roster, though.
Blake will be remembered in the history of the NBA, he will be a hall-of-famer, and in his prime he was must see TV.
Unfortunately, Blake will not be remembered as a Piston, and that’s okay.
He was a 5x All-star, 4x All-NBA, and won the 2011 Rookie of the Year and Dunk Contest, all in a Clippers’ uniform.
Blake’s career in Detroit is a weird mix of the former superstar past their prime (a la Allen Iverson and Chris Webber) and the star that just couldn’t quite get healthy enough to win games (Grant Hill).
Once the impending move is made, Blake and the Detroit Pistons will go their separate ways. The Pistons can fully embrace the rebuild Troy Weaver’s way and Blake can look to become a pivotal piece for a contending team.
Not all break ups need to be dramatic. Pistons’ fans should appreciate what Blake Griffin did in Detroit. For a few years we got a taste of what Lob City was like, but now it’s time to search for the next Pistons’ great.