Blake Griffin announces his retirement from the NBA after 13 seasons

• Blake Griffin announced his retirement from basketball after 14 years in the NBA
• Griffin was the first pick in the 2009 NBA draft
• In a thoughtful letter on social media, he thanked his friends, family, fans, teammates and coaches

Blake Griffin, the first overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft, has talked about a career. The six-time All-Star selection announced his retirement from basketball in a lengthy Instagram post on April 16.

Griffin, 35, played seven seasons with the LA Clippers after they drafted him in 2009. He also played for the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics.

Griffin's announcement came in the form of a digital letter in which he told fans that he “never imagined” he would be “the guy who would put a 'letter to basketball' retirement announcement in the mail.” “But as I reflected on my career, I kept coming back to one feeling and the only thing I wanted to express was gratitude,” he wrote.

The 2011 Dunk Contest champion said he was “grateful for every single moment – not just the good ones,” listing “the awards, the dunks and the unforgettable moments with family, friends, fans, teammates and coaches.” .

Griffin said he was “equally grateful for the not-so-good moments” in his NBA career. “The losses, the injuries, the way too many surgeries, the lessons, the heartache, and it wouldn't be a sports retirement letter without acknowledging the 'haters,'” he continued.

“All of these experiences have truly made my 14 years in the league unforgettable and I can’t help but be grateful,” shared Griffin.

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Griffin also mentioned his parents and brother in the letter, thanking them for their years of support. “I could go on about the people in my life who have made enormous contributions to my career, but in this short letter I must thank my parents, Tommy and Gail, and my brother Taylor for their unconditional support and guidance.” ” he wrote.

“Finally, I would like to thank my agent, Sam Goldfeder, who was a steadfast voice of reason and my consigliere during the war,” Griffin added before concluding his letter by acknowledging the impact of basketball on his life.

“The game of basketball has given me so much in this life, and I wouldn’t change a thing,” he wrote. “Finally, here's the obligatory 'I'm looking forward to my next chapter' part: Just kidding, I'm done. Thanks.”

Griffin was known in the NBA for his explosive athleticism. During his career, he made the All-Star team six times, was selected to the All-NBA second team three times, was selected to the All-NBA third team twice and was named Rookie of the Year in 2011.