Former Atlanta Hawks first-round pick A.J. Griffin announced that he has decided to step away from basketball, confirming previous reports. The 21-year-old Griffin was waived by the Houston Rockets on Sept. 20 after being traded from the Atlanta Hawks and received a $250,000 contract buyout, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
There was a bit of ambiguity surrounding Griffin, who was drafted No. 16 overall by the Hawks in 2022, and why exactly he decided to take a break from basketball. He recently specified his reasons, however, saying he