Rockets’ AJ Griffin reveals why he ‘stop basketball’

The Houston Rockets traded for ahead AJ Griffin only a few days after the top of the 2023-24 NBA season, nevertheless it’s wanting like he’ll by no means play for them. The 21-year-old agreed to a buyout with the Rockets and was then waived so he may pursue a special ardour away from basketball.

On Saturday, Griffin posted a video to his private YouTube channel that defined why he was stepping away from the NBA.

“I gave up basketball to comply with Jesus and I do know that in lots of people’s eyes, that looks as if a loss,” he disclosed. “However I simply wished to allow you to guys know that I am tremendous excited as a result of I actually get to serve God. I really feel like letting go of basketball is permitting me to enter full-time ministry and actually serve the Lord with all my coronary heart. I am excited to see the place that leads me.”

Griffin recalled that he “gave his life to Christ” in 2020, which was proper earlier than he attended Duke College. For the Blue Devils, Griffin averaged 10.4 factors per sport whereas capturing 49.3% from the ground and 44.7% from 3-point land. These spectacular statistics helped him go professional as a result of, after one 12 months at Duke, he was chosen sixteenth general by the Atlanta Hawks within the 2022 NBA Draft.

How did AJ Griffin fare within the NBA?

As a rookie, Griffin impressed. He performed in a whopping 72 video games for the Hawks and even began 12 of them. Throughout his inaugural season, he recorded 8.9 factors and a pair of.1 rebounds per outing whereas capturing 46.5% from the sector.

Though Griffin averaged 19.5 minutes per sport as a rookie, these numbers dropped in his sophomore season. He posted simply 8.5 minutes per sport and noticed his capturing percentages drop beneath 30%. The second-year Hawk spent some private time away from the staff in December and entered solely 20 video games all season, by no means scoring over eight factors in a single efficiency.

Regardless of these struggles, Griffin nonetheless confirmed plenty of appreciation for basketball and the NBA as nicely.

“Basketball is my the whole lot. I believed that was the explanation why I used to be residing,” he admitted. “It is not what we do this makes us, nevertheless it’s who you’re. And if you come to Christ, your identification is in Christ.”

The previous first-round decide comes from a spiritual household, as Griffin’s grandfather served as a Christian pastor in Kansas. He additionally comes from a basketball household. Griffin’s father is Adrian Griffin, former head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and NBA journeyman. He additionally has a brother, Alan, who briefly performed within the G-League and a sister, Audrey, who nonetheless performs for the famend UConn Huskies.

Whereas some may surprise why Griffin retired earlier than reaching his athletic prime, he defined that he was being known as to go away basketball behind.

“I am simply grateful. I do not remorse something,” he said. “I felt just like the Lord was calling me to let go of basketball, to actually simply serve him extra.”

AJ Griffin then thanked all people who was part of his journey to the league, together with the Rockets and Hawks.

“To my followers, to my brokers, to my household, to everybody who has supported me alongside this journey, I simply wish to say thanks,” he mentioned. “You guys actually love me for me, not simply because I play basketball. I wish to thank the NBA as nicely. Thanks to everybody who’s given me the chance to indicate my items of basketball to the world. I am excited for this new journey.”

As Griffin will get set to start the following section of his life, Houston will put together to construct off of a promising season. Beneath head coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets completed 41-41 in the course of the 2023-24 marketing campaign and have been a lot nearer to a playoff spot than many imagined they’d be. A number of extra wins this season might be sufficient for them to sneak into the playoffs for the primary time since 2020.