Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers grabs a rebound against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
(May 19, 2012 – Source: Harry How/Getty Images North America)
(PhatzRadio / CBS Sports) — Blake Griffin will re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers for five years and $95 million, according to a tweet Tuesday afternoon from Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.
Though that kind of money is atypical for a 23-year-old player, Griffin’s extension is now the second time in the last year that the league has seen a 23-year-old sign a contract worth nearly $100 million; in December, Derrick Rose, who had just become the youngest MVP in league history, signed a five-year contract extension with the Chicago Bulls worth $94 million.
Griffin, who made $5.7 million last season with the Clippers, is already a two-time All-Star and has received a number of accolades after missing his rookie year because of injury. He came back after that lost season to win the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2011 and was the Slam Dunk Champion as well. Last season he was named to the NBA All-Second Team, averaging 20.7 points 10.9 rebounds, and led the Los Angeles Clippers to a Game 7 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Playoffs. The team lost in the semi-finals to the San Antonio Spurs.
The relationship between the Clippers and Chris Paul, who played with Griffin in the All-Star game and is expected to compete with Griffin at the London Olympics, is much more tenuous. In June, Paul turned down a contract extension with the team.
