Standing at 6'9″ and weighing 250 pounds in his prime, Blake Griffin's combination of elite vertical leap, exceptional speed and overwhelming strength makes him one of the most athletic players that ever graced the hardwood.
As a result of his inhumane physical attributes, Griffin has one of the greatest highlight reels in basketball, dominated by a wide range of poster dunks and alley-oops.
While most would think players use their extraordinary athleticism for show, Blake was a lethal offensive weapon who gave the NBA's best shot-blockers a hard time and turned them into laughingstocks with his iconic posters, especially during the Los Angeles Clippers' "Lob City" era.
Although Griffin benefited from his athleticism and physical prowess, it didn't diminish the fact that he, too, struggled with other physical specimens of his time who gave him trouble.
Throughout most of basketball history, big men and wings were viewed as physical powerhouses who dominated with their strength. But during Griffin's time in the league, point guards joined in on the action as well, proving that the smallest player on the court isn't afraid of challenging the biggest players.
"Guys like Russ and D-Rose," said Griffin when asked who were the best athletes he played against. "In their primes, man, having to like, switch out on a pick, a contain switch, and how shifty they were."
Nowadays, it seems every point guard is a physical monster that can put anyone on a poster. But before them, Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose were pioneers of athletic playmakers who, unconventionally, used their impeccable physical attributes to their advantage rather than traditional guard skills like shooting or fancy ball-handling.
But due to their smaller frame and shiftyness, Russ and D-Rose's added explosiveness was almost impossible to contain. Not to mention, they used the traditional portrayal of point guards as the smallest and "weakest" players to their advantage, giving plenty of Griffin problems.
"But those guards to me, they were so quick and so explosive. You kind of couldn't touch them as much. That was like a nightmare to guard."
Aside from those iconic guards, LeBron James remains the definition of a physical specimen who also dominated that era with his physical prowess.
Also standing at 6'9″ and weighing 250 lbs, LBJ can play any position he wants, as he has the speed of a guard and the strength needed to bang with the centers down low. Still, despite his enormous frame, Griffin could play freely against him compared to Westbrook or Rose.
"And obviously, LeBron too. That was one guy as good as he was and as talented as he was; you were able to play physical with him. So, I'm not saying I was going to get the better of him, but at least you could, like, you could bump and hit and try to slow him down. He didn't get as many calls," BG added.
That era marked one of the biggest shifts in basketball history. Not only did the use of the 3-point line explode, but players also became much more skilled offensively and athletic, paving the way for the modern game, where players are expected to do pretty much everything on the court.
Meta: Blake Griffin reveals that Westbrook and Rose were the greatest athletes he played against.
Dek: Griffin's era was highlighted by some of basketball's greatest athletes.
Teaser: Blake Griffin explains how Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose were his toughest matchups due to their enormous physical capabilities as guards.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Oct 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
