Clippers take Griffin with No 1 pick

NEW YORK: The Los Angeles Clippers selected Blake Griffin with the No 1 pick on Thursday, grabbing the only player considered a sure thing in an NBA draft full of question marks.

Griffin was the consensus US college player of the year after leading the nation with 14.4 rebounds per game while averaging 22.7 points last season for University of Oklahoma. The Clippers said they would take the forward with the pick hours after they won the draft lottery last month.

"The fact is we're getting an incredible player, incredible person, an impeccable work ethic and a guy that we plan on having in LA for many years to come," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "He's going to be a great, exciting fit for our ballclub."