- Blake Griffin shares particulars about his life in Los Angeles, as he joins Prime Video’s NBA protection subsequent season
- The previous basketball star, identified for his slam dunks, says he is previous his dunking prime
- Griffin tells PEOPLE it is his “dream” to take his youngsters to Lobsterfest at Pink Lobster
Almost one yr into his retirement, Blake Griffin says he hasn’t performed a lot basketball since leaving the NBA. In an unique interview with PEOPLE, Griffin, 35, shares a glimpse into what his life is like nowadays.
“As I used to be stepping into the tip of my profession, I used to be like, ‘Man, I would like considerably of an outlet, a aggressive outlet,’ and a bunch of my associates have been taking part in golf, so I gave it a attempt,” Griffin shares. “I’ve gotten tremendous into it, some folks could even say obsessed.”
Not solely does Griffin’s new passion hold him busy, however golf permits him to maintain up with former teammates and fellow retired athletes. “Some guys have been taking part in since we performed collectively, or some guys simply picked it up like myself, however when guys come into city, I am going to take them out to play golf. It is received its personal little NBA and in addition former athlete neighborhood too, so it is cool.”
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Griffin spent his first 9 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers earlier than taking part in for different groups together with the Pistons and Celtics, however he is made California his house since his retirement.
“I like being in L.A,” says Griffin. “I type of made this house. I performed my first 9 years right here, so it simply grew to become house by default. I adore it out right here. I received a terrific group of associates. My youngsters are at school out right here, so it is nice.”
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“And attending to play golf year-round can be a pleasant little bonus,” provides Griffin, who shares son Ford Wilson, 11, and daughter Finley Elaine, 8, together with his ex, Brynn Cameron. Shortly after they break up in July 2017, Griffin had a high-profile romance with mannequin Kendall Jenner.
Though Griffin hasn’t been recreating his iconic slam dunks, telling PEOPLE he “type of left that previously,” he’s paying homage to his NBA profession in a brand new advert with Pink Lobster — a sequence that Griffin says was “a staple of my childhood rising up.”
“We had one which was two miles from my home rising up,” the Oklahoma native recollects, “so it brings again a variety of good recollections. Lobster, cheddar biscuits, all that, so once I had the chance to do that for a Pink Lobster and Lobsterfest, I jumped at it simply because there was simply a lot nostalgia.”
Now that he is creating recollections together with his youngsters, Griffin says taking them to Pink Lobster is a should. “I am going to make it a degree to get them to Lobsterfest. That is my dream as a result of I wish to see it by their eyes,” says Griffin.
The daddy of two should in the reduction of on his time on the golf course when the subsequent NBA season begins within the fall. In January, Griffin was announced as one of many names hooked up to Prime Video’s new studio present, becoming a member of Dirk Nowitzki and Taylor Rooks.
Griffin tells PEOPLE he is “excited” in regards to the alternative to affix the streaming community’s NBA protection. “The wonderful thing about that job is like I like basketball and I’d watch it it doesn’t matter what. So making ready for me is absolutely similar to… It is simply watching video games, ensuring I am staying concerned.”
Griffin has saved in contact with varied normal managers and coaches within the NBA that he is labored with in his profession, “simply to ensure that I do know what I am speaking about and updated on the most recent info that I believe groups are taking a look at,” he says. “We actually need this present to be very informative, I believe, and bridge the hole between simply the common NBA fan and the NBA.”
