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Gone are the days of Blake Griffin soaring high to the rim for a thunderous throwdown, all while putting a sorry defender on his Kodak moment. Heck, the version of Blake Griffin with a retooled offensive package who led the Detroit Pistons to a playoff berth in the 2018-19 season is no longer recognizable two years later.
It's pretty evident at this point that the former No. 1 overall pick no longer looks like himself anymore, especially with this lowly Pistons squad. And, quite frankly, his steep fall from grace is just outright depressing to watch.
Just take a look at Griffin looking so miserable during the first half of their loss to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night:
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There could be a lot of things going on in Blake Griffin's mind at that point. Perhaps frustration with how his team is playing could be one of them. Or maybe Griffin is just growing incredibly disappointed that he can no longer play at the high level he has been accustomed to throughout his career.
It's sad, really, to see just how rapid Griffin's downfall has happened. The 31-year-old is averaging just 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while shooting an abysmal 37.1 percent from the field.
It's hard to fathom that, just two years ago, Griffin looked like he rejuvenated his career with the Pistons, leading them to a postseason berth. Griffin showcased a repackaged offensive arsenal, no longer relying on his athletic gifts to become effective. Instead, he became an all-around offensive machine.
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Griffin developed a steady stroke from the outside and shot 36.2 percent from 3 that season on 7.0 attempts a night. He also thrived as a playmaking 4, averaging 5.4 assists. Many praised Griffin at the time for evolving his game as he transitioned into a more under-the-rim player as his athleticism declined. His efforts that year earned him his sixth All-Star appearance and an All-NBA nod.
Unfortunately, Griffin followed up that strong campaign with an injury-riddled 2019-20 campaign in which played just 18 games. Now, the 31-year-old is undoubtedly having the worst season of his career.
Obviously, injuries have played a major role in Griffin's massive decline over these last couple of years. Despite becoming more skill-based as he ages, it's becoming clearer that Griffin's body just can't hold up anymore and allow him even to do other things on the floor to keep him effective.
Griffin will still have solid nights here and there, just like he did in a 23-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers a couple of games ago. However, Griffin just doesn't have it anymore as a consistent star, and too often he's just downright ineffective.
The former Oklahoma standout still likely has a spot in the league, and perhaps a fresh start would help him. But Blake Griffin's days as a star and offensive focal point in the NBA are done.
