Report: AJ Griffin ‘Seriously Considering’ Stepping Away from NBA After Rockets Trade

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVSeptember 12, 2024

Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images

The 2024-25 season was going to be AJ Griffin’s third in the NBA, but he reportedly may be done with his career.

Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported Thursday the Houston Rockets forward is “seriously considering stepping away from basketball.”

Houston acquired him via trade from the Atlanta Hawks this offseason, but Charania noted “sides are preparing for his departure from the game.”

Expectations were high for Griffin when the Hawks selected him with the No. 16 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. After all, he was an ACC All-Freshman selection during his one season at Duke as someone who could stretch the floor or attack off the bounce as a matchup problem for opposing defenses.

He was a solid contributor in his rookie season, averaging 8.9 points and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from deep across 72 games and 12 starts.

However, Griffin’s role was drastically reduced in his second season as he averaged 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds across just 20 appearances.

Atlanta traded him to Houston as part of a three-team deal with the Miami Heat, and there was surely some hope he could rediscover his form and develop into a contributor for the Rockets. He is still just 21 years old and was joining a young core of players including Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green, Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr., among others.

Griffin’s outside shooting could have played well in Houston when defenders collapsed on Şengün, Smith and Green, which would have created additional space.

Alas, the Rockets will not get the opportunity to see that play out if he ends up walking away from the game.