21 – an age when aspiring hoopers just begin their careers in the NBA. But for the Houston Rockets wing, AJ Griffin, it might be the end. The son of former Milwaukee Bucks head coach, Adrian Griffin, Adrian Darnell “AJ” Griffin Jr. naturally came into the league under the burden of high expectations. In fact, ahead of the 2022 draft, he was touted as a top-five pick! However, he was selected at No. 16 by the Atlanta Hawks and got off to an exceptional start with the team.

Griffin’s second season, though, surprisingly fell flat. And he was soon shipped to Houston in what everyone hoped the former standout Duke product would work his way up to getting regular minutes in a team with a remarkable young core. It was in these circumstances that the Athletic’s Shams Charania and Kelly Iko tweeted the shocking news that AJ Griffin is serious about retirement.

Per the update, “Houston Rockets F AJ Griffin is seriously considering stepping away from basketball … Sides are preparing for his departure from the game.“

It truly is unusual for players even to consider retirement so young, let alone be serious about the matter. Off the top of my head, the youngest player to have retired early is Jay Williams. Another Duke alum, the 43-year-old’s retirement, though, wasn’t of his own accord. A motorcycle accident in 2003 severely injured him. Despite every effort for a comeback, including lengthy physical therapy, Williams left the NBA at just 21.

In the case of AJ Griffin, though, injuries, at least career-ending ones, have never been reported. 2023, though, was a tough year for the McDonald’s All-American. His nephew, Jayce Griffin, had died in July of that year. The 2-and-a-half-year-old was with his father, Alan Griffin, for the weekend when the incident occurred. Jasmine Riggs, the little boy’s mother, reportedly said that a doctor attending to her son told her that they found fluid in Jayce’s lungs. Needless to say, it shook the family to the core.

His on-court struggles had begun even before that. Following this, the 6’6 forward had been off the court for personal reasons since early December. Towards the end of the month, AJ addressed his absence. “I would say that I am glad to be back. The team has been great to be able to support me through that time, stepping away for a little, just for personal reasons.” 

Given Griffin or the Rockets have not come forward with any official explanation as to the latest news, we are just going to have to wait and see. On a different note, though, let’s take a look at his statistics.

AJ Griffin’s decision might come as a surprise considering his love for the game and what the numbers say

“I love to shoot,” a 16-year-old AJ had said as he was preparing for the USA Basketball Men’s U16 championship in 2019. No, it isn’t simply because he has a father who played professionally and coached one of the top Eastern Conference teams recently. Nor was it because his two older siblings, Alan and Aubrey Griffin, had already made a name for themselves in the basketball community.

It was simply because AJ Griffin’s interest in basketball was as genuine as it came. As young as 2. While kids his age were trying their hand at kiddie hoops, AJ was busy draining his shots on an NBA regulation net. “He was really small and he would take an NBA basketball and cock it behind his head and his neck, and just launch it up there. The first time it went in, everyone was like, ‘Oh that’s cute.’ Then, he kept doing it over and over again and the whole team would come over and watch him. His strength at that age was unbelievable, and he just loved basketball,” a proud Griffin Sr. recounted in a 2022 interview.

Considering his impressive performances in high school, leading his team (Archbishop Stepinac) along with his brother Alan, to its first title since 1984 in CHSAA as a freshman, it is not hard to believe. As a sophomore, AJ and now-Tar Heels guard, R. J. Davis formed one of the top backcourts in the nation, averaging 20.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.5 blocks, and 2.4 steals per game.

“He [Adrian Griffin Sr.] just taught me the work ethic and how much I have to put into it and all the hard work is going to pay off eventually,” AJ said about his father’s impact on his love for the game. Perhaps that was what we saw in a rookie Griffin in the NBA.

In addition, of the 0.7 free throws attempted, AJ Griffin made 0.6 of them per game. However, the way you look at it, even with the disappointing 2023-24 season (2.4 points, 0.3 assists, and just under a rebound while going 29.0% from the field and a smidgen over 25% from deep in only 20 games), AJ was bound to have a solid NBA career. It would have been a real treat to see AJ grow with the Rockets.

 Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.