The Houston Rockets and forward AJ Griffin have come to terms on a contract buyout just before the start of the new NBA season. Griffin had been seriously considering stepping away from the game of basketball and now can freely do so at only 21 years old.
NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic broke the news on social media.
Rockets are waiving AJ Griffin via contract buyout, as he is expected to step away from basketball at 21 years old after two NBA seasons, sources said. https://t.co/bipvmzsGIU — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 20, 2024
Griffin was taken with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks out of Duke University. During his one season with the Blue Devils, Griffin averaged 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.
He shot 44.7 percent from beyond the 3-point line and 49.3 percent from the field itself. His performance was good enough for him to earn ACC All-Freshman honors, helping to launch his NBA career.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – FEBRUARY 03: Malik Beasley #5 of the Utah Jazz drives past AJ Griffin #14 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of a game at Vivint Arena on February… SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – FEBRUARY 03: Malik Beasley #5 of the Utah Jazz drives past AJ Griffin #14 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of a game at Vivint Arena on February 03, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Griffin is retiring from basketball. More Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images
After coming to the Hawks, Griffin put up a decent rookie season. He averaged 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists over 72 games played. Griffin showed that his 3-point shooting would translate to the NBA, hitting 39 percent of his attempts.
Griffin was traded to the Rockets this offseason in a three-team trade. He was expected to give Houston some depth to their lineup so his decision to step away from basketball came as a surprise.