AJ Griffin, son of former NBA player and current Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin, began his NBA journey with high hopes. After the Atlanta Hawks picked him with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Griffin seemed poised for a promising career.
However, after just one season, Griffin’s path took an unexpected turn. The Hawks traded him to the Houston Rockets in exchange for No. 43 overall pick Nikola Durisic. Unfortunately, Griffin’s future in the NBA is uncertain, as the 21-year-old plans to step away from basketball.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Rockets are waiving AJ Griffin via contract buyout.
According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the buyout is valued at $250,000. However, if Griffin chooses to step away, he will have to forfeit a significant portion of the money he was set to earn for the 2024-25 season.
NBA fans were stunned by the unexpected news surrounding Griffin. Many have expressed their support and wished him success in whatever direction he chooses for his future.
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AJ Griffin NBA Stats Highlights
AJ Griffin played 72 games for the Atlanta Hawks in his rookie season. His rookie season saw him averaging 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in nearly 20 minutes per game as a rookie. He scored a career-best 24 points twice in his rookie season.
However, Griffin only played 20 games last season with the Hawks. In those games, he averaged 2.4 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in nearly 7 minutes per game.
After he was traded to the Rockets, he could not appear in any game for the team. The 21-year-old star appeared in five games for the Rockets during the Summer League this year in Las Vegas. But he struggled with the Rockets, which probably played a role in their decision regarding him.
Also Read: James Harden’s Former Teammate Explains Why Star Guard Was Misunderstood During His Rockets Stint.
