AJ Griffin: “I gave up basketball to observe Jesus”

AJ Griffin, the 21-year-old ahead, has determined to step away from basketball after agreeing to a buyout with the Houston Rockets. In a heartfelt YouTube video, Griffin defined his resolution to prioritize his religion over his basketball profession.

“To deliver all of it down in a brief abstract, I gave up basketball to observe Jesus,” Griffin said. He acknowledged that many may view this alternative as a loss, however expressed his pleasure about dedicating his life to full-time ministry.

Griffin revealed that his religion journey started in 2020 when he gave his life to Christ. “It was one of the best resolution of my life,” he stated. Griffin defined how his priorities modified as he grew in his religion, realizing that basketball, as soon as his every part, was not his life’s goal.

Griffin, acquired by the Rockets in June from the Atlanta Hawks in change for a second-round choose, struggled to seek out his footing within the NBA. After a troublesome stint through the Las Vegas Summer season League, it grew to become clear he wasn’t more likely to be a part of Houston’s plans for the upcoming season.

The buyout settlement, price $250,000, permits Griffin to sit down out the 2024-25 season as he displays on his future within the sport. Regardless of being chosen sixteenth total by the Hawks within the 2022 NBA Draft, his time within the league has been difficult. In two seasons, Griffin averaged 7.5 factors per sport whereas taking pictures 44.7% from the sector throughout 92 video games.

Through the 2023-24 season, Griffin performed in 20 video games for the Hawks, averaging simply 2.4 factors in 8.5 minutes per sport. His restricted taking part in time and struggles to adapt to the NBA have fueled his resolution to step again.

Griffin, the son of former NBA participant and Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin, had a promising faculty profession at Duke, which propelled him into the NBA. Nonetheless, his transition to the skilled stage proved tougher than anticipated.

Griffin expressed his want to deal with his religious life. “I actually get to serve God with my full sure. Letting go of basketball is permitting me to enter full-time ministry and really serve the Lord with all my coronary heart,” Griffin added.

Whereas his basketball future stays unsure, Griffin seems content material along with his resolution. His transfer to observe his religion somewhat than the court docket marks a major shift in his life’s course. As he continues his journey, it stays to be seen whether or not basketball will play a job in his future.

For now, Griffin is at peace along with his alternative. “It’s not what we do this makes us, but it surely’s who we’re,” he stated.