Rockets striker considers retiring from basketball

Life in the NBA is not for everyone.

On Thursday, Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported that Houston Rockets guard AJ Griffin is considering retiring from basketball before the 2024-25 NBA season.

Griffin, who was selected No. 16 in the 2022 NBA Draft, is “seriously considering” ending his career. In the offseason, the guard was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Houston Rockets, which was a low-risk move for general manager Rafael Stone.

The transfer gave Griffin a change of scenery as he tried to find his feet again in the NBA. During his rookie season with the Hawks, the Duke product appeared in 72 games, 12 of which were as a starter, and played an average of 19.5 minutes per game.

In his second year, Griffin only appeared in 20 games, averaging 8.6 minutes per game, and his performance and opportunities dropped significantly before the Hawks decided to trade the forward.

It is unclear what role Griffin might play with the Rockets, and it will not be known when he retires from basketball.

Griffin, 21, has the potential to carve out a long-term role for himself in the NBA. He made 39 percent of his three-point shots in his rookie season. His efficiency dropped off in his second year, but he was given a limited role to show that.

Griffin's ability to move around the court and his potential as a defender – given his 6'6″ and 220 pounds – could have helped him prove himself as a role player when he joined the Rockets. Houston has a lot of depth and young talent, but limited minutes.

As The Athletic reports, both sides are preparing for his departure from the team, which suggests that he is focused on his retirement from basketball.

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