Meet Taylor Griffin: The Lesser-Known Brother of NBA Star Blake Griffin

Meet Taylor Griffin: The Lesser-Known Brother of NBA Star...

By Fan Arch August 23, 2024 12:43

Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Taylor Griffin, who was born April 18th,1986 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is the older brother of younger brother Blake Griffin, one of the most recognized faces around NBA circles today. Taylor's trajectory from a lower profile perspective has made their way to being more visible and prominent within coverage. This feature goes in-depth on his background, journey through basketball, current progression, and much more.

Early Life and Upbringing

Taylor Griffin grew up in a sports-saturated family. Tommy Griffin, a former track standout at Northwestern Oklahoma State University helped foster the boys' interest in sports. Taylor and Blake were home-schooled by their mother, Gail Griffin, in middle school so they could concentrate on studying and competing without all the distractions typical of regular schools. This idyllic setting created a close-knit bond between the brothers, and they were regularly seen training with their father.

Both Griffin brothers went to Oklahoma Christian School, and their dad was the head coach. In high school, they were insanely successful and collectively led their team to two state championships in Oklahoma 2A basketball.

College and Professional Basketball Career

College Basketball

Griffin played college basketball at the University of Oklahoma from 2005–09. Throughout his tenure for the Oklahoma Sooners, he demonstrated to be a Swiss army knife player. In his final season, he averaged 9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.

Professional Career

Taylor was taken in the second round, 48th overall, by the Phoenix Suns in that year's NBA draft shortly after Blake had gone No. 1. Taylor's pro career started with the Suns when he came into the league, and just as top-name players slated to make their debuts continued an unprecedented run of high school to NBA success. During his rookie year, he saw a few minutes in the NBA with only 32 in his name.

The Suns waived him in July 2010, and he later signed with Belgacom Liège Basket from Belgium. He played overseas for several years, bouncing around from one team to the next before eventually ending up with teams like the Dakota Wizards and Santa Cruz Warriors in the D-League, where he earned a championship back in 2015. He last played professionally for Trapani in Italy during the 2015–16 season and then retired from professional basketball.

Taylor vs. Blake Griffin

Both brothers share a love of basketball, but they are in two different stages. Blake Griffin is one of the biggest stars in NBA history and an explosion of talent known for his ability to jump and play dunk highlight reels with teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, and even Boston Celtics. Blake received numerous awards, including the NBA Rookie of the Year award and six All-Star nods.

On the other hand, Taylor had a decent professional career but was not as successful as Blake's. The thinking was that Taylor was a good player but did not have Blake's freak athleticism and star quality. However, Taylor's work with his teams and the fact that he was able to play while adjusting to different world leagues speaks testament to how much toughness this guy really had for the sport.

What is Taylor Doing Now?

Taylor Griffin has had to change careers every few years since retiring as a professional basketball player. He works in athlete relations for a private investment platform, Patricof Co. It also allows him to touch on his days in professional sports while assisting other athletes with their careers and investments. In June 2016, Taylor became COO of Blake Griffin Enterprises, which appears to underscore his involvement in the business side of sports.

In addition to his work, Taylor is also a loving husband and doting father. He and his wife Marieka share three children. His family/community commitment is obvious in his partnership with Team Griffin Foundation, which he co-founded with Blake. The foundation is committed to providing opportunities for talented basketball players, as the brothers hope to give back to the community that had stood behind them during critical junctures of their careers.

While Taylor Griffin's basketball ride is not as well known or flourished as Blake's, it should remind us how much the sport means to those who love it. Taylor has rewritten the simple steps that many of us follow from childhood and throughout college through professional careers to the present day, crafting a narrative arc specific only to himself. His involvement in Blake's life and their mutual allegiance to helping young athletes develop skills on and off the field show how much family matters. Taylor's tale is one more positive note in his post-basketball life, an example of how everyone can win and that all paths are worth celebrating.

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