Blake Griffin: Five NBA Players Similar To The Los Angeles Clippers' Rookie
The Los Angeles Clippers selected forward Blake Griffin with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
Unfortunately, the former Oklahoma standout would injure his kneecap in the preseason, forcing him to miss the entire 2009-10 regular season.
Griffin finally made his long-awaited NBA debut this season and has proven to the league that he was well worth the wait. With his plethora of powerful dunks, he has quickly garnered fans across the country.
He already has two 40-point games under his belt and posted 27 consecutive double-doubles.
Here's a look at five former or current NBA players who Blake The Great compares to thus far.
Charles Barkley
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Griffin compares to the great Charles Barkley because of his ability to grab rebounds like it isn't funny.
Also like Barkley, the talented Clippers rookie is bulky and can use his "get out the way" power to get to the basket.
Griffin is currently averaging 22.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per contest, stats almost identical to Barkley's second season.
It sure would be a sight to see Barkley battle Griffin for rebounds underneath the hoop.
Karl Malone
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Malone is sometimes referred to as the greatest power forward of all time. The Hall of Famer is second to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the NBA's all-time career scoring list with 36,928 points.
Griffin has the ability to run the floor like Malone used to do back in the day, but doesn't have his unstoppable fadeaway jumper, at least not yet.
If Griffin's post game continues to improve and serious injuries don't get in the way, he just might elevate to Malone's level someday.
We'll see.
Shawn Kemp
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Griffin is considered a modern day Kemp because of his incredible dunking ability.
Blake the Great vs. the Reign Man. Who would you take?
That's a question that would generate a heated debate for sure since both players have unbelievable hops and can put on a show whenever they want. Many fans might actually give Griffin the nod already.
Next month, Griffin might win the Slam Dunk Contest, something Kemp never managed to pull off during his career.
Antonio McDyess
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Antonio McDyess? You mean that old guy who comes off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs?
Yes, before suffering devastating knee injuries, he could simply jump out of the gym and was a walking highlight reel.
Like Griffin, McDyess was drafted by the Clippers, with the second overall pick in the 1995 draft. He was immediately traded to the Denver Nuggets in a deal for Rodney Rogers and Brent Barry.
A young McDyess was blessed with the speed and power that Griffin possesses today.
He was named an All-Star in 2000-01, a season in which he put up 20.8 points and a career-best 12.1 rebounds per game.
Amar'e Stoudemire
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Entering the draft, Griffin drew comparisons to Stoudemire because of his athleticism and potential.
Griffin is the better rebounder, while Amar'e can stick the mid-range jumper on a consistent basis.
Both players are explosive and can shake the rim with their thunderous dunks.
In a few months, Griffin will most likely take home Rookie of the Year honors, something Stoudemire did back in 2003.
