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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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