Eddie Griffin (basketball)

Eddie Griffin (born May 30 1982 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an NBA basketball player, currently playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Drafted out of Seton Hall University with the seventh pick of the 2001 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets, Griffin's draft rights were immediately traded to the Houston Rockets for Jason Collins, Brandon Armstrong and the rights to Richard Jefferson.

Related Topics:
May 30 - 1982 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - NBA - Basketball - Minnesota Timberwolves - Seton Hall University - 2001 - NBA Draft - New Jersey Nets - Houston Rockets - Jason Collins - Brandon Armstrong - Richard Jefferson

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Griffin has had a history of quiet violence dating back to high school. He was a phenom at Roman Catholic High School, touted by some as the biggest basketball star to emerge from Philadelphia since Wilt Chamberlain. He competed in the McDonald's All American Game and led Roman to the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship in his junior year. In his senior year at Roman, he got into a fight with a fellow teammate in the cafeteria and was subsequently forced out of the school, though he received his diploma a month after graduation. The teammate was expelled. At Seton Hall, rumors floated that he had gotten into several verbal and physical confrontations with teammates.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic High School - Wilt Chamberlain

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In his rookie year of 2001-02, Griffin played in 73 games (starting 24), averaging 8.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and an impressive 1.84 blocks per game (ranking 13th in the NBA in that category). He followed with another solid year in 2002-03, averaging 8.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.44 blocks per contest.

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But Griffin suffered from alcoholism, and his troubles piled up quickly over the following year. In December 2003 the Rockets released him after he missed practices and a team flight. Griffin signed with the Nets in January 2004, but missed the entire 2003-04 season when he entered an alcohol rehabilitation center.

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In February 2004, Griffin violated a court-ordered curfew stemming from an aggravated assault charge against his ex-girlfriend (he was accused of hitting her and shooting at her), and spent 11 days in jail.

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He pleaded guilty to deadly conduct in March over the aforementioned incident, and was sentenced to 18 months' probation, fined $2,000 and ordered to take anger management classes.

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Prior to the 2004-05 season, the Timberwolves signed Griffin to a one-year contract, and thus far he's put up roughly the same numbers he had in his two previous seasons.

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His Career Stats are Below:

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G MIN FGM-A 3PM-3PA FTM-A REBS ASTS STL BLK PTS

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206 4,954 676-1,777 214-645 161-234 1,228 180 90 339 1,727

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