Rockets’ AJ Griffin ‘seriously considering’ leaving basketball

Rocket wing AJ Griffin He is “seriously considering” retiring from basketball, sources tell Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link).

According to Charania and Iko, both Griffin and the Rockets are “preparing for him to retire.”

Griffin, selected 16th overall in the 2022 draft, had a promising rookie season, averaging 8.9 points per game and shooting .465/.390/.894 in 72 games (19.5 minutes per game).

However, he missed time due to foot and ankle issues and personal reasons in the 2023-24 season and didn’t play much when he was available, averaging just 8.6 minutes per game in 20 appearances. The former Duke Blue Devil’s scoring numbers dipped to 2.4 PPG on 29.0% shooting (.256 3PT%).

After spending his first two seasons with the Hawks, Griffin was traded to Houston in June in a three-team trade that sent Atlanta to receive the 43rd pick in the draft (Nikola Djurisic). The Rockets have reportedly long been interested in the 21-year-old, and in July he expressed his excitement about a fresh start in Houston. However, it appears his time with the team may be very short.

Griffin is in Houston with a guaranteed salary of $3.89 million for 24/25, and the Rockets will have until the end of October to decide whether they want to pick up his $5.97 million team option for 25/26. Based on today’s report, it certainly sounds like that option has been declined.

Griffin is the son of a former NBA player and longtime assistant coach. Adrian Griffinwho was the Bucks head coach for part of last season.