It’s funny how certain jersey numbers instantly spark a memory. You see #91, and if you’ve been around long enough—or just have a deep love for basketball chaos—your brain immediately flashes to Dennis Rodman. Wild hair, defensive madness, and a rebounding hunger that felt borderline spiritual. So, when Blake Griffin popped up in a Boston Celtics jersey wearing that number, fans did a collective double take.

But let’s zoom out a little bit. Griffin’s time in Detroit was… a plot twist nobody saw coming. When he got traded from the Clippers in 2018—right after signing that big extension—fans were shook, and honestly, so was he. But instead of sulking, Blake rolled up his sleeves and went to work. Despite the unexpected change of scenery, Griffin embraced his role in Detroit with a blue-collar mentality.

Remember that 2018–19 season? Man dropped a casual 24.5 points a game, dragged the Pistons to the playoffs on one knee—literally. That playoff game where he limped out there in a knee brace? Pure heart. He transformed his game too—less high-flying, more IQ and playmaking. But what had fans scratching their heads was not what he chose to wear but what he didn’t. His willingness to play through injury and adapt his game showcased a deep commitment to the team.

Recently, during a conversation with Fitz and Whit, Griffin opened up about it, saying, “Rip’s the real 32.” It wasn’t just the fans who were curious about his choice; even the NBA champion himself, Rip Hamilton, was wondering why Griffin didn’t take his number when he joined the team. Blake explained, “I get to the Pistons and I’m like…the numbers I wanted are taken… I’m like, what about 32? Nope, Rip Hamilton.”

Looking back on his time with the Pistons, Blake reflected on the unique “culture of the past players” that he didn’t experience during his Clippers days. “It was never like a celebrated thing,” he said. But in Detroit, things felt different. Blake fondly recalled how special the 2004 championship was to him, calling it a time when he was “so in love with basketball.“

He shared, “That was like my prime, like high school… going to a team and then seeing Joe Dumars, Rip Hamilton, seeing all those numbers up… hearing all those stories.” For Griffin, it was a real sense of belonging, a feeling that made his time in Detroit so much more than just another chapter in his career.

But even though Blake didn’t go with #32 in Detroit, he still made an interesting choice when he landed in Boston. Let’s just say, it wasn’t your average jersey pick.

Blake Griffin’s tribute to Dennis Rodman

Griffin made headlines when he stepped into court wearing No.91, which had never been worn before by the franchise. This was not a mere fashion statement. It was a heartfelt tribute to Rodman, the Hall of Famer, renowned for his unwavering defense, rebounds, and chaotic brilliance. “I’m scrambling for numbers, and I don’t know. Somebody was like, what about Rodman’s 91? I’m like, you know what, f— it. I’ll stand by the Boston 91,” Blake said, embracing both the number and everything it symbolized. Choosing #91 in Boston was a bold statement, a deliberate nod to one of the most unique and impactful players in NBA history.

Griffin explained that many of the numbers he had worn in the past were unavailable due to the Celtics’ rich, championship-stacked history. “You know how many numbers are retired in Boston?” he joked. But when 91 came up, it just felt right—not only as a nod to Rodman’s legacy but as a mark of respect for the franchise’s tradition.

This wasn’t Blake’s first brush with Rodman comparisons either. Having watched every game Blake played in his college years, the NBA analyst Skip Bayless had once called him “a poor man’s Dennis Rodman,” claimed Blake. Most players might have taken offense. Not Blake. He reshaped his game and, weirdly enough, started leaning into that Rodman-esque energy—just in his own way. So when he chose to wear #91, it wasn’t just some quirky last-minute equipment decision.

It felt intentional—like a subtle callback to an old comment, a quiet wink to fans who remembered, and maybe even a statement about how legacies have a funny way of circling back. But when it came to his time with the Pistons, Blake made a different kind of choice—he chose not to touch the memory. That #32 jersey belonged to Rip Hamilton, and for Blake, it was tied to his high school days, watching Rip lead Detroit to a championship. Some numbers mean too much to mess with.

Ultimately, Griffin’s jersey number choices reveal a thoughtful player aware of NBA history and respectful of the legacies that came before him, while also embracing his own unique identity.