Houston Rockets star AJ Griffin is considering stepping away from the NBA at the age of 21, according to reports.
Griffin was drafted No 16 overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2022 and played two seasons before being traded to the Houston Rockets in June of this year.
He is yet to play a game for his new team, but Shams Charania of The Athletic reports he is now ‘seriously considering’ quitting the sport entirely.
The report adds that both sides are preparing for his departure, suggesting Griffin could be headed towards retirement.
In his rookie season with the Hawks, the former first-round pick appeared in 72 games with 12 starts, averaging 19.5 minutes per game.
Houston Rockets star AJ Griffin is considering stepping away from the NBA at the age of 21
However, his role diminished as he struggled with an ankle injury during his second year in the NBA. He appeared in just 20 games, averaging 8.6 minutes per game last season.
After his production decreased, the Hawks ultimately decided to move on from him this offseason in ate June.
Atlanta traded Griffin to the Rockets for the No. 44 pick in this year’s draft before trading that pick to Miami to obtain rights to guard/forward Nikola Djurisic of Serbia.
Griffin appeared for the Rockets during the NBA’s Summer League in Las Vegas this summer but the forward could leave the game all together before suiting up in a regular season game for his new team.
More to follow.
