Houston Rockets ahead AJ Griffin is “severely contemplating” stepping away from basketball after two NBA seasons on the age of 21, in accordance with Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
Griffin, who was chosen sixteenth total by the Atlanta Hawks within the 2022 draft out of Duke, didn’t present a cause why he’s been considering retirement. It’s unclear if this might be everlasting or momentary.
The 6-foot-6 Griffin confirmed promise throughout his rookie season with the Hawks. In 72 video games (12 begins) of the 2022-23 season, he averaged 8.9 factors, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 help, and 19.5 minutes per contest.
Simply in: Houston Rockets F AJ Griffin is severely contemplating stepping away from basketball, sources inform me and @KellyIko. Griffin, 21, was the No. 16 choose within the 2022 NBA draft to Atlanta, then traded to Houston this summer season. Sides are getting ready for his departure from the sport. pic.twitter.com/AyNp1rF4MI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 12, 2024
In Atlanta’s 117-98 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 7, 2022, Griffin recorded a career-high 24 factors on 10-of-15 (66.7%) capturing from the ground and 2-of-6 (33.3%) from past the arc. The previous Duke star made each free throws as nicely.
The New York native additionally shot 46.5% from the sphere, 39% from deep, and 89.4% on the free throw line that season. Nonetheless, he missed time in the beginning of the 2023-24 season for private causes. Atlanta didn’t give any particulars.
Atlanta Hawks traded AJ Griffin to Houston Rockets in June
In 20 video games off the bench final season, he averaged simply 2.4 factors and eight.6 minutes per contest whereas capturing 29% from the ground, 25.6% from 3-point vary, and a real capturing share of 38.2%.
As a part of a three-team commerce in June, the Hawks despatched him to Houston; Atlanta traded money to the Miami Warmth; the Rockets traded Pelle Larsson to Miami; and the Warmth dealt Nikola Djurisic to Atlanta. The Hawks additionally obtained a commerce exception.
Per Spotrac, AJ Griffin is owed a assured $3.9 million this season. That is a part of the four-year, $17.1 million rookie-scale contract he signed with the Hawks in July 2022. If he retires, he’ll stroll away from that. The Rockets have a $5.9 million crew choice for the 2025-26 season.
Griffin can also be the son of former NBA participant Adrian Griffin, who coached the Bucks for the primary 43 video games of final season. Doc Rivers grew to become Milwaukee’s 18th head coach on Jan. 24, 2024.
