If you're one for arbitrary statistical markers to designate how a certain player is performing during his career, have we got one for you. After reaching the 13,000-point plateau for his career on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors, Blake Griffin — who is out Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to the need to rest — became the third player in league history to collect 13,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 2,000 assists in his first 600 career games, as first pointed to by Tommy Beer of Rotoworld in citing an earlier milestone.
Who are those other two players who reached that threshold prior to Griffin, you might ask? None other than Oscar Robertson and Larry Bird. The league has certainly changed since either laced up a pair of sneakers, but anytime you find yourself on a list that includes only Robertson and Bird, you're doing something right and historic.
It has been an arduous process to reshape his game, but Griffin is in the midst of a career season with Detroit. Named to the All-Star squad for the first time since 2015, Griffin is on pace to set a new career high with 24.7 points per game, including 2.5 made 3-point baskets on a nightly basis. His first full season with the Pistons has also featured this note: He has collected 7.6 rebounds and handed out 5.4 assists per contest, numbers which have helped him reach those elusive milestone-level figures — 5,000 boards and 2,000 assists — so early in his career.
Having entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick a decade ago, Griffin has lived up to the promise of his billing and more, even if he had to adjust his game to get there.
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