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"He would make $500 million" – DeAndre Jordan on why prime Blake Griffin would dominate today's NBA
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- "He would make $500 million" – DeAndre Jordan on why prime Blake Griffin would dominate today's NBA
When discussing one of the most entertaining teams ever, the 2010s Los Angeles Clippers , headlined by Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, have to be mentioned.
Paul, one of the best passers ever, was a perfect floor general for Jordan and Griffin, who were athletic freaks and amazing dunkers. So, even before they played their first game together, fans were hyped about the alley-oop potential the team had.
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And they weren't disappointed.
Paul was casually averaging double-doubles in points and assists, Jordan had more rebounds per game than points, and Griffin did it all, slowly developing every part of his game and establishing himself as a guy who could punish opponents from almost anywhere on the court.
But would he be able to do it in today's NBA? Jordan certainly thinks so.
DeAndre believes that prime Blake would dominate today's NBA
Although he missed his first season due to a knee injury, Griffin took the league by storm once he finally made his NBA debut.
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Despite being known for his dunking, he was putting up numbers, averaging over 20 points in eight of his nine seasons with the Clippers. People tried to reduce his greatness to athleticism, but every year he kept proving them wrong by showcasing great versatility.
Today, forwards of Griffin's size play the same way. They dribble. They shoot. They make plays for others.
That's why Jordan, a guy who played with Griffin the longest and witnessed his greatness firsthand, has no doubt his former teammate would dominate today's NBA.
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" If Blake was in his prime, he would make $500 million [today]. That's just the player he was, man. And I think if Blake wanted to play now, he could still be playing basketball," said Jordan.
Jordan admires Griffin's work ethic
One thing Jordan admired about Griffin was his work ethic. Although he had natural athletic ability, he was constantly developing his game, so much so that he became a stretch four in the latter part of his career.
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" His work ethic was one of the hardest I have ever seen in my life. He was just super-duper special. I think when you are able to adapt to different teams, different teammates, different time periods of the game, that's a great trait to have ," explained Jordan.
Griffin's early retirement
The Lob City era officially ended when Griffin was traded to the Detroit Pistons . In his first season in Detroit, he played at a very high level and was eventually named an All-Star.
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But then, the injuries started piling up. Eventually, he decided to end his career at just 33 years old while playing for the Boston Celtics.
Currently, Griffin is enjoying his time in retirement. He even revealed that he hasn't played organized basketball since his last NBA game.
And why would he? During his 14-year NBA career, Griffin earned $261.3 million from salaries alone. So even though Jordan argues he would earn even more if he played today, Griffin has done great for himself.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
