Earlier in the NBA season, the Houston Rockets and forward AJ Griffin came to an agreement on a buyout. Griffin declared on Saturday in a YouTube video that he was really going to retire from the game and into “full-time ministry.” In the video, he says, “I gave up basketball to follow Jesus.” “I am aware that that appears to be a loss to many individuals. However, I just wanted to say how happy I am to actually get to serve God to all of you.”
Griffin explained that he felt compelled to give up basketball and embark on a new chapter in his life when asked why he couldn’t pursue his ministry and basketball goals at the same time.
The 21-year-old former Duke Blue Devil was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 16th overall choice in the 2022 NBA draft. In 92 games (12 starts) throughout his two seasons in Atlanta, he averaged 7.5 points and 1.9 rebounds. However, he was mostly left off the roster the previous season and took a leave of absence from the squad in December due to personal matters. He was moved to the Rockets this offseason as part of a three-team transaction with Atlanta and the Miami Heat that sent Pelle Larsson, the No. 44 overall pick in this year’s draft, to Miami and Nikola Djurisic, the Hawks, and financial considerations.
With forwards like Jabari Smith Jr., Dillon Brooks, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason, and Jae’Sean Tate available, Griffin probably wouldn’t have seen a lot of playing time in Houston. Because of the depth of the Rockets, Griffin might have had trouble getting playing time. The Rockets were able to add another player to their roster as a result of his buyout, but with their already strong depth, it’s likely they may decide to leave it open in order to have flexibility in the trade market later in the season.
