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The Houston Rockets and forward AJ Griffin agreed to a buyout earlier in the NBA season. On Saturday, Griffin said in a YouTube video that he was indeed retiring from the game, announcing his intention to go into “full-time ministry.”
“I gave up basketball to follow Jesus,” he said in the video. “I know that in a lot of people’s eyes, that seems like a loss. But I just wanted to let you guys know that I’m super excited because I truly get to serve God.”
As for why he couldn’t pursue basketball and ministry concurrently, Griffin said he felt he was being called to let go of basketball and enter a new season in his life.
The 21-year-old and former Duke Blue Devil was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft for the Atlanta Hawks. He spent two seasons in Atlanta, averaging 7.5 points and 1.9 rebounds across 92 contests (12 starts).
He largely fell out of the rotation last season, however, and spent time away from the team in December for personal reasons.
This offseason, he was traded to the Rockets in a three-team deal with Atlanta and the Miami Heat that sent the No. 43 overall pick in this year’s draft, Nikola Djurisic, to the Hawks and cash considerations and Pelle Larsson (the No. 44 overall pick in this year’s draft) to Miami.
Griffin likely wouldn’t have seen a ton of playing time in Houston, with players like Jabari Smith Jr., Dillon Brooks, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason and Jae’Sean Tate available at forward. The Rockets are deep, and Griffin would have potentially struggled to find minutes.
His buyout opened up another roster spot for the Rockets, though given the team’s impressive depth already, it’s possible they could leave it open for flexibility in the trade market later in the season.
