- AJ Griffin, 21, was selected 16th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2022.
- He played two seasons before being traded to the Houston Rockets in June.
Houston Rockets star AJ Griffin is reportedly considering walking away from the NBA at the age of 21.
Griffin was drafted 16th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2022 and played two seasons before being traded to the Houston Rockets in June of this year.
Griffin, the son of former Milwaukee Bucks coach Adrian Griffin, has yet to play a game for his new team, but The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports he is now “seriously considering” leaving the sport altogether.
The report adds that both sides are preparing for his departure, suggesting that Griffin, who is currently in the third year of his four-year, $17.1 million rookie contract, could be heading toward retirement.
In his rookie season with the Hawks, the former first-round pick appeared in 72 games with 12 starts, averaging 19.5 minutes per game.
Houston Rockets star AJ Griffin is considering walking away from the NBA at age 21
The forward is the son of former Milwaukee Bucks coach Adrian Griffin (right).
However, his role was reduced by an ankle injury he suffered during his second year in the NBA. He appeared in just 20 games, averaging 8.6 minutes per game last season.
After his production declined, the Hawks ultimately decided to waive him this offseason in late June.
Atlanta traded Griffin to the Rockets for the 44th pick in this year’s draft before trading that pick to Miami to obtain the rights to guard/forward Nikola Djurisic of Serbia.
Griffin (center) talks with Jalen Williams after being selected in the first round in June 2022.
Griffin appeared for the Rockets during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas this summer, but the forward could leave the game entirely before playing a regular-season game for his new team.
The news of his potential departure comes less than three weeks before the start of training camp with the 2024-25 season scheduled to begin on Oct. 22.
The Rockets finished the 2023-24 season with a 41-41 record, falling just short of earning a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
His departure would leave the Rockets with less depth at small forward and less competition for Cam Whitmore, Jae’Sean Tate and Tari Eason at that position.
