AJ Griffin, Duke’s No. 16 pick in 2022, is “seriously considering” retiring from basketball at 21.
The surprising news came from Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic. No reason was given as to why he would consider the move.
It is unclear whether this is permanent or temporary, but it appears it will be for an extended period of time.
Griffin showed promise during his rookie season in Atlanta, averaging 8.9 points per game on 39 percent 3-point shooting. He missed some time early last season for personal reasons — the team did not provide details — and even when he returned, he failed to break into the rotation, playing in just 20 games, averaging 2.4 points per game on 29 percent 3-point shooting. He also struggled on defense.
He was traded to Houston this summer as part of a three-team deal that saw Atlanta acquire the 43rd pick (which it used for Nikola Djurisic). It’s been reported that the Rockets’ front office is intrigued by Griffin and believes he has potential with them, although Houston is a team with a lot of young talent, so cracking the rotation wouldn’t be easy. Griffin played for the Rockets in the Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 11.6 points and 3 rebounds per game while shooting 28% from 3 in five games — not impressive numbers, especially for a veteran player.
Griffin, the son of former NBA player Adrian Griffin — Milwaukee’s coach for the first 43 games of last season — is eligible for a guaranteed $3.9 million this season, which he can walk away if he retires. The Rockets have a $5.9 million team option for the 2025-26 season.
Whatever Griffin’s reason for retiring, let’s hope he gets the help he needs and is looking for.
