Blake Griffin is having one monster rookie campaign and is destined to become this year’s NBA Rookie of the Year in a landslide despite his team’s putrid performance so far this season. Statistics certainly don’t tell the whole story with this guy - although season averages of 20.7 points and 12.3 rebounds qualify as outstanding production even for the most casual of NBA fans - you have to witness the show he puts on night in and night out to fully appreciate his talent and future potential.
Griffin has posted fifteen consecutive double-doubles and has even been dishing out his fair share of dimes recently - this month alone he has posted four assists or more six times and it appears his only glaring weaknesses at the moment are turnovers and his inability to hit free-throws.
The Clippers have even won two consecutive games for just the second time all year!
I’ve been a huge Griffin fan since his days at Oklahoma and wrote a column about him earlier this year so I can’t say I’m completely surprised by his dominance. You can read that piece HERE if you like.
That being said, even I didn’t realize the rare company Griffin is on pace to join if he continues at his current performance level.
Haven’t seen him in action yet? Take a look at THIS CLIP from his 44-point, 15-rebound masterpiece featuring a few devasting throw-downs against the Knicks on November 20th.
Check this out: Just eight players in NBA history have ever posted 20 points and twelve rebounds per game in their rookie campaigns. Griffin is on pace to become the ninth as of December 20, 2010.
Take a look at the players who have accomplished this feat:
(NOTE: ABA players are not included in this table)
YEAR
NAME
TEAM
PPG
RPG
54-55
BOB PETTIT
MILWAUKEE HAWKS
20.4
13.8
58-59
ELGIN BAYLOR
MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS
24.9
15.0
59-60
WILT CHAMBERLAIN
PHILADELPHIA WARRIORS
37.6
27.0
61-62
WALT BELLAMY
CHICAGO PACKERS
31.6
19.0
68-69
ELVIN HAYES
SAN DIEGO ROCKETS
28.4
17.1
69-70
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
28.8
14.5
89-90
DAVID ROBINSON
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
24.3
12.0
92-93
SHAQUILLE O’NEAL
ORLANDO MAGIC
23.4
13.9
10-11
BLAKE GRIFFIN
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
20.7
12.3
Wilt. Kareem. Baylor. Shaq.
That is one pretty fantastic group of NBA legends up there, wouldn’t you say? Every single one of them is in the Hall of Fame or guaranteed to make it (Shaq) and most own a championship ring.
He’s also one of just eighteen players to record a 40 point, 15 rebound outing since the 2000-01 season.
Not only that, just three players have posted a 44-plus point, 15-plus rebound, 7-plus assist outing since 1986-87: Griffin, Vince Carter, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Yes, folks - VINCE CARTER - in 2007 with the Nets.
Keep up the great work Blake - I’m sure this is just a glimpse of what’s to come.