Inside Blake Griffin’s Life in L.A. Post-Retirement — Golf, Fatherhood and a New Sports Show (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Blake Griffin attends the Celebrity Golf Invitational on May 06, 2024 in Pacific Palisades, California.Photo:Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Netflix

Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Netflix

Nearly one year into his retirement,Blake Griffinsays he hasn’t played much basketball sinceleaving the NBA.In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Griffin, 35, shares a glimpse into what his life is like these days.

“As I was getting into the end of my career, I was like, ‘Man, I need somewhat of an outlet, a competitive outlet,’ and a bunch of my friends were playing golf, so I gave it a try,” Griffin shares. “I’ve gotten super into it, some people may even say obsessed.”

Blake Griffin and Nate Bargatze are seen during the Match Superstars at The Breakers on October 15, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida.Carmen Mandato/Getty

Carmen Mandato/Getty

Griffin spent his first nine seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers before playing for other teamsincluding the Pistons and Celtics, but he’s made California his home since his retirement.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Blake Griffin playing for the Boston Celtics on March 6, 2023.Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty

Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty

“And getting to play golf year-round is also a nice little bonus,” adds Griffin, who shares son Ford Wilson, 11, and daughter Finley Elaine, 8, with hisex, Brynn Cameron. Shortly after they split in July 2017, Griffin had a high-profile romance with modelKendall Jenner.

Although Griffin hasn’t been recreating his iconic slam dunks, telling PEOPLE he “kind of left that in the past,” he is paying homage to his NBA career in a new ad with Red Lobster — a chain that Griffin says was “a staple of my childhood growing up.”

“We had one that was two miles from my house growing up,” the Oklahoma native recalls, “so it brings back a lot of good memories. Lobster, cheddar biscuits, all that, so when I had the opportunity to do this for a Red Lobster and Lobsterfest, I jumped at it just because there was just so much nostalgia.”

Now that he’s creating memories with his kids, Griffin says taking them to Red Lobster is a must. “I’ll make it a point to get them to Lobsterfest. That’s my dream because I want to see it through their eyes,” says Griffin.

The father of two will have to cut back on his time on the golf course when the next NBA season begins in the fall. In January, Griffinwas announcedas one of the names attached to Prime Video’s new studio show, joiningDirk NowitzkiandTaylor Rooks.

Griffin tells PEOPLE he’s “excited” about the opportunity to join the streaming network’s NBA coverage. “The great thing about that job is like I love basketball and I would watch it no matter what. So preparing for me is really just like… It’s just watching games, making sure I’m staying involved.”

Griffin has kept in touch with various general managers and coaches in the NBA that he’s worked with in his career, “just to make sure that I know what I’m talking about and up to date on the newest information that I think teams are looking at,” he says. “We really want this show to be very informative, I think, and bridge the gap between just the average NBA fan and the NBA.”

source: people.com