The Los Angeles Clippers today signed All-Star forward Blake Griffin to a multi-year contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.
After averaging 20.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 66 games played last season, Griffin was named to the NBA's 2012 All-NBA Second Team. Griffin led the Clippers in points, rebounds, field goals made and attempted, free throws attempted and minutes while playing every game last season. Griffin was the only player in the NBA last season to average 20+ points, 10.5+ rebounds and 3.0+ assists and was one of only two players in the league (Dwight Howard) during the 2011-12 campaign to average 20+ points, 10.5+ rebounds and shoot at least 54 percent from the field.
Griffin's standout season helped the Clippers finish the year as the fifth seed in the 2012 Western Conference Playoffs and win their First Round matchup against the fourth seeded Memphis Grizzlies. Griffin averaged 18.0 points and 6.4 rebounds during the Clippers seven game series against the Grizzlies, which culminated with a stunning
Game Seven Clippers' victory in Memphis. Los Angeles would eventually fall to the top seeded San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Semi-Finals.
Griffin turned in one of the most prolific rookie campaigns in NBA history in 2010, averaging 22.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 38.0 minutes in 82 games (82 starts). The unanimous winner of the 2010-11 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year Award, Griffin became the first rookie since Tim Duncan in 1998 to be voted by the coaches as a reserve on the All-Star team. Griffin was the lone unanimous selection to the 2010-11 NBA All-Rookie First Team and was also the winner of the Sprite Slam Dunk contest during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
The first overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft out of the University of Oklahoma, Griffin, along with Clippers' teammate Chris Paul, was recently named by USA Basketball as a nominee for the 12-man U.S. Olympic Team men's basketball roster which will compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London beginning on July 29th.