AJ Griffin is formally retiring from Rockets, NBA to pursue a career in ministry

Three months after moving from the Atlanta Hawks to the Houston Rockets, young forward AJ Griffin retired from the NBA to focus on a career in ministry, he announced Sunday.

“I gave up basketball to follow Jesus,” Griffin, now 21, said in a video on YouTube. “I feel like letting go of basketball will allow me to go into full-time ministry and really serve the Lord with all my heart. With all my time too. … I felt like the Lord was calling me to let go of basketball and serve Him more.”

For Griffin, a Duke product who was drafted at No. 16 overall in the 2022 first round, the announcement marks the conclusion (at least for now) of an unusual two-plus years in professional basketball.

After an encouraging rookie season (2022-2023), in which Griffin averaged 8.9 points (39.0% on 3-pointers) for the Hawks in 19.5 minutes, he played in just 20 games as a sophomore in the NBA (only 8.6 minutes per game), while dealing with on-field struggles and off-field tragedies. He missed several weeks for personal reasons.

In June, Houston acquired Griffin from Atlanta at minimal cost as a sort of reclamation project. But he largely struggled with the Rockets in the 2024 summer league, and he recently reached a buyout deal with the Rockets for what was left of his original NBA contract.

Training camps for the 2024-2025 season open Tuesday, Oct. 1, and Griffin’s retirement opens up a roster spot for the Rockets. However, the team appears to have no plans to fill it for the time being.

More: Report: Rockets surprised by AJ Griffin’s sudden decision to leave the NBA

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: AJ Griffin retires from Rockets, NBA to pursue career in ministry