COLLEGE
It was fun playing [in high school] for my dad, but it was one of those things, looking back, I’m really grateful for it just because he kind of pushed me harder than probably another coach would. He’d get onto me, he’d know exactly what buttons to push, and what made me tick, so looking back, I’m thankful for it because he was there and he molded me in the early years of my career.
Blake Griffin was one of the most decorated players ever to play at the University of Oklahoma (OU), with his 2008-2009 season being one of the best in school history.
- Griffin led the Sooners to the 2009 Elite Eight, averaging 28.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in four NCAA Tournament games
- OU finished 30-6 and ranked No. 7 in both major polls
In high school, my brother and I were close, but where we became really close was college. We spent so much time together, being older and more mature, and understanding that relationship and how special that opportunity was for us both to be able to play on the same team — that’s where we really grew that bond.
Despite playing just two seasons at OU, Griffin ranks:
IN CAREER FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE (.618)
IN REBOUNDS PER GAME (11.8)
IN DOUBLE-DOUBLES (40)
IN POINTS PER GAME (18.8)
IN REBOUNDS (805)
IN POINTS (1,278)
I honestly had no intention of staying in-state to go to college. Being in Norman all the time — going down to his [Taylor’s] games and going to hang out with him — when Coach Capel got hired at OU, I was just sold.
In his second (and last) season at OU, Griffin swept all 6 of the national player of the year awards in the 2008-2009 season.
BIG 12 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2009
AP NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2008-09
#23 JERSEY RETIRED
AT UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
FIRST PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY
TO WIN THE NAISMITH AWARD, WOODEN AWARD, AND OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY IN A SINGLE SEASON