Blake Griffin: Can He Eventually Trump Tim Duncan as the Greatest Power Forward?

The Los Angeles Clippers used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft on Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin.

Griffin would miss the entire 2009-10 campaign due to injury, but finally debuted last season.

"Blake the Great" would prove he was worth the wait, putting together an unbelievable 2010-11 season in L.A. He averaged 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, was named an All-Star reserve and won the league's rookie of the year award.

Griffin has the potential to emerge as the game's best power forward sometime in the near future. He also has the potential to one day become the greatest power forward ever. 

But in order for him to earn the lofty "greatest power forward of all time" label, he has a long, very long way to go.  

Griffin is going to have to surpass former MVPs like Tim Duncan, Bob Pettit, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki. Then there's also champions like Elvin Hayes, Kevin McHale, Dennis Rodman and Dave DeBusschere.

Most fans and experts believe Duncan is the greatest power forward in NBA history, which makes sense, seeing that his resume includes four championships, two regular-season MVP awards and three NBA Finals MVP awards.

In addition, the 13-time All-Star is the lone player in history to be named to both All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams in each of his first 13 seasons in the league.  

Griffin is one of the league's most athletic players and easily one of the most spectacular dunkers. He can rebound, hit the mid-range jumper and possesses stellar ballhandling and passing skills.

However, if he wants to edge Duncan as the better player, he's going to have to improve his free-throw shooting (.642 percent) as well as his shot-blocking. Griffin averaged just 0.5 blocks per game last season, while Mr. Duncan has averaged 2.3 for his career.

If Griffin wants to surpass Duncan as the greatest power forward to ever play the game, he's going to have to win a few championships, which of course is not an easy task. Just ask legends like Malone, Barkley and Patrick Ewing.

Duncan has won championships playing alongside a great group of players like David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Sean Elliott and Bruce Bowen.

Can Clippers management assemble a championship-caliber supporting cast around Griffin? That remains to be seen. 

So far, the Clippers roster includes young pieces like shooting guard Eric Gordon and center DeAndre Jordan. Gordon, who put up 22 ppg last season, certainly has the potential to become an All-Star in this league, while Jordan could eventually blossom into one of the game's better big men.  

The Clippers own the Minnesota Timberwolves' first-round pick in the 2012 draft, which will likely be in the top five, unless the Wolves have a miracle-type season. Luckily, the class of 2012 is stacked with small forwards such as Harrison Barnes, James McAdoo and Quincy Miller.    

So a few years down the road, the Clippers could very well emerge as a title team and who knows, maybe a superstar like Dwight Howard or Chris Paul could end up joining Griffin in Los Angeles.   

If Griffin can stay healthy throughout his career, don't be surprised to someday hear people referring to him as the greatest power forward who ever lived. He has a long way to go to take Duncan's place, but he has the work ethic to accomplish such a feat.