David Griffin

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Lore & Background

Griffin was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended high school at Brophy College Preparatory. He enrolled at the University of Arizona but transferred to Arizona State University in 1993 in order to accept an internship with the Phoenix Suns organization. Griffin completed a bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1995. He started as a tournament director for the Nike Desert Classic pre-draft camp. He was also an assistant coach at Scottsdale Community College. Later, he worked as part of the basketball press information team during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Griffin spent 17 seasons with the Phoenix Suns, beginning with an internship with the team's public relations department in 1993 while he was still a student at Arizona State University. He was hired as a full-time media relations assistant after three years as an intern. Being noticed by Jerry Colangelo and then-coach Danny Ainge for his detailed notes for the media, Griffin joined the team's basketball operations side via the video department in 1997. He spent his last three years in the club as senior vice president of basketball operations after being named to the position in June 2007. In September 2010, Griffin was named vice president of basketball operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers. On February 6, 2014, he was named the acting general manager for the Cavaliers, after the firing of Chris Grant from that position. In his first trade since becoming acting GM, Griffin traded forward Earl Clark, center Henry Sims, and draft picks to the Philadelphia 76ers for center Spencer Hawes. On May 12, 2014, the Cavaliers announced that Griffin would be named as permanent, full-time general manager. In the following weeks after being named permanent GM, Griffin brought in Euroleague Champion and Coach of the Year David Blatt as head coach, drafted Andrew Wiggins with the number one pick in the 2014 NBA draft, signed LeBron James back four years after the infamous 'Decision', and acquired All-Star forward Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a trade. In order to acquire Love, Griffin gave Wiggins and former 1st overall pick Anthony Bennett to the Wolves. As a result of these moves and many others, Griffin placed second in the NBA Executive of the Year Award voting for the 2014–15 season. Griffin and the Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Finals after defeating the 73-win Golden

In Their Own Story

The air in Quicken Loans Arena was thick with anticipation as the 2014-15 season began. David Griffin stood courtside, watching his assembled squad—Irving, Love, Thompson, and the returning King—take the floor for the first time since the reunion. The pressure of the city's expectations hung heavy, but Griffin felt a quiet confidence. He had navigated complex trades, managed salary cap constraints, and trusted in young talent. As the ball hit the hardwood with that familiar squeak, he knew the pieces were finally in place to chase a dream that had eluded Cleveland for decades.

Reader's Guide

David Griffin served as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers from February 6, 2014 (acting) until his contract was not renewed on June 19, 2017. He was named permanent general manager on May 12, 2014. His tenure with the Cavaliers included winning the 2016 NBA championship and reaching the NBA Finals in three consecutive seasons. He later became executive vice president of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans from April 17, 2019 until his firing on April 14, 2025.

Did You Know?

• Griffin completed a bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1995.
• He had three bouts with testicular cancer—in 2006, 2011, and 2017.
• Griffin placed second in the NBA Executive of the Year Award voting for the 2014–15 season.
• He was raised by a single mother in a Maryvale neighborhood of lower middle-class West Phoenix.