The Houston Rockets forward AJ Griffin has decided to step away from basketball, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Griffin, who turned 21 in August, was entering his third NBA season.
Charania reports that Griffin and the Rockets agreed to a contract buyout that will see the player give up a sizable chunk of the $3.9 million he was set to receive in base salary for 2024-25. Griffin is expected to sit out this upcoming season and is considering full retirement.
Griffin entered the league as Atlanta Hawks’ first-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft after two years of college basketball at Duke. He had a prominent role in his rookie season, playing in 72 games and making 12 starts while averaging 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and one assist per game.
Griffin’s sophomore year didn’t go as expected, as his playing time diminished. He ended up playing in just 20 games and averaged 2.4 points per game in 8.6 minutes on the floor.
The Rockets decided to take a chance on Griffin, trading for him in June as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Miami Heat. He reportedly spent the offseason taking part in voluntary workouts at Houston’s facilities, and his decision to caught the team by surprise.
Griffin is the son of former NBA player Adrian Griffin, who played 10 seasons in the league and recently served as the head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks.
