BIO: Eric Griffin was born and raised in Orlando, Florida (USA). He attended Maynard Evans High School before transferring to Boone High School for his senior year after being cut multiple times from the basketball team at Evans. At Boone, he met head coach and former LSU guard Willie Anderson, who recognized Griffin’s freakish athleticism and unrelenting hunger for greatness. Anderson was the first one to give Griffin a chance, and he didn’t disappoint.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Eric Griffin made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 29 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.

After losses to Melbourne and Perth in their final two games left Adelaide 14-14 and fifth the previous season, tied with Brisbane but outside the playoffs on percentage, the 36ers reshaped their roster. Nathan Sobey (to Brisbane), Jacob Wiley (to Gran Canaria), Majok Deng (to Cairns), Demitrius Conger (to Real Betis) and Shaun Bruce (to Sydney) departed, while Joey Wright added Kevin White (via Illawarra), Daniel Dillon (via Paris), Obi Kyei, Alex Mudronja and Deshon Taylor. Taylor was released prior to the regular season when former NBL MVP Jerome Randle (via Sydney) became available and returned to Adelaide on a two-year deal.

Adelaide signed Eric Griffin (via Ironi Nahariya) to a one-year deal as Wiley’s replacement after he had averaged 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in Israel. Before the signing was confirmed, Wright described the type of import Adelaide was targeting as “He can play 1, 2, 3, 4, is a great defender and is very much a Chris Williams-type.”

Adelaide opened its season against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on October 12, where Johnson (26 points and 7 rebounds) and Randle (16 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the 36ers. In his NBL debut, Griffin was limited to 10 minutes by foul trouble and finished with 4 points and 1 block, while Newley (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Sydney to a 102-80 win.

Griffin (14 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 28 games) provided Adelaide with scoring, rebounding and rim protection throughout his only season with the club, starting nine games and playing the remainder primarily from the bench. Griffin appeared in all 28 games and did not miss a game through injury. Adelaide recovered from its opening loss to start 3-1 before four consecutive defeats against South East Melbourne, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth dropped the 36ers to 3-5 and began an inconsistent season spent fighting around the playoff positions.

One of Griffin’s best performances came against New Zealand at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on November 24, where he came off the bench to make 11-of-13 shots and finished with 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal in only 18 minutes. Johnson (19 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Randle (14 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) provided support as Adelaide defeated the Breakers 117-100 and improved to 5-6, while Henry (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led New Zealand. “Exceptional,” Wright said of Griffin’s performance.

Griffin’s best game of the season came against Melbourne at Melbourne Arena on December 7, where he came off the bench to make 11-of-14 shots, including four three-pointers, and finished with a career-high 34 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Randle (17 points and 3 assists) and Teys (16 points and 3 rebounds) provided support, but Long (34 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks) dominated inside as Melbourne defeated Adelaide 112-90.

With Adelaide attempting to remain in the playoff race, Griffin delivered another major performance against Perth at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 1. Griffin (24 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks) made 9-of-15 shots, while Drmic (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Randle (13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) provided support. White (23 points and 6 rebounds) led Perth, but Adelaide recovered after surrendering a 13-point lead and defeated the defending champions 100-97, snapping a three-game losing streak and moving from eighth to fifth on the ladder.

Randle (19.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists) led Adelaide in scoring and assists, while Johnson (18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds), Drmic (10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds), Moore (7.8 points), Froling (7.3 points and 3.5 rebounds), McVeigh (6 points) and Teys (5.2 points) were the other major contributors. Adelaide reached 11-11 with six games remaining but lost five of its final six games and fell out of playoff contention.

Already out of playoff contention, Adelaide travelled to RAC Arena to face Perth in its final game on February 15, which marked Wright’s 500th game as an NBL head coach. Griffin (0 points) played only two minutes, while Johnson (18 points and 11 rebounds) and McVeigh (16 points and 6 rebounds) led Adelaide and Kay (23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led Perth to a 94-79 win. Adelaide finished seventh with a 12-16 record.

Eric Griffin played one season in the NBL. He averaged 14 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 28 NBL games.