Why Is AJ Griffin Retiring? Inside 21-Year-Old’s Shocking Decision as He Agrees to $250,000 Rockets Buyout

For most aspiring hoopers, playing in the NBA is nothing short of a dream. And that makes it even more shocking to hear that a player who is only two years into his pro career would willingly decide to hang up his boots. But that’s what 21-year-old AJ Griffin has reportedly chosen as the next step in his career. Getting the finishing touches on his retirement plan, the forward has agreed to a contract buyout with the Rockets which is worth $250,000.

While Griffin prepares to ride off into the sunset, surely many of you might be wondering what led to him taking this drastic step at such a young age. Well, here’s the answer!

Adrian Griffin: From first-round pick to Early Retirement

Just two years ago, AJ entered the league with big dreams and high hopes as he got picked number 16 by the Hawks in the draft. Coming from a prestigious program such as Duke’s, he had immense potential and even had a solid rookie season averaging 8.9 points and over two rebounds. However, instead of elevating to the next level, his game fell off the following season as he played only twenty games and his scoring average dropped to 2.4 points.

Earlier this summer, the Hawks dealt Griffin to the Rockets in a three-team trade which also included the Heat. Sure enough, many believed it would be a fresh start for AJ as the Rockets have been on the come up in recent years and have a solid young roster with playoff potential. But Griffin had different plans! Just earlier this month, it was reported that he was “seriously considering” stepping away from the game and even the team was willing to facilitate his departure.

While the actual reason behind his decision remains unknown, it has been cited as family-related and personal reasons. Obviously, Griffin comes from a basketball family as his father, Adrian Griffin was also a player in the league and even head-coached the Bucks last season before getting fired mid-way. Moreover, with his underwhelming performance last season and the Rockets’ stacked with young talent, Griffin likely would have not seen much time on the floor either way. So, it might in a way be a wise decision as he can now focus on the next chapter of his life. And he definitely has the money for a fresh start!

AJ Griffin is giving up millions to facilitate his retirement plan as the Rockets remain “patient” to fill the roster spot

Well, when the Rockets traded for Griffin, they had no clue that the forward would hang his boots within months of the acquisition. Moreover, he even suited up for them in the Summer League and played five games where he averaged a solid 11.6 points and three rebounds. But as they headed closer to training camp, Griffin’s communication with the team and appearances at voluntary practices gradually began decreasing, hinting at what was to follow.

But the franchise has been nothing but supportive of his decision understanding “that his personal life takes priority and have offered their support.” And they have saved up some money as Griffin is giving up a significant chunk of the $3.9 million he was owed for next season by agreeing to the $250,000 buyout. While his contract was worth four-year $17.1 million, he was only about to enter the third year of his deal this season.

Sure enough, that means he is sacrificing over $9 million left on his contract to facilitate his retirement. However, he has already bagged over $7.2 million in career earnings in the last two seasons, which will likely help him kickstart the next chapter of his life. Surely, the decision to retire would have been a tough one for Griffin and it is unclear if his move is temporary or permanent. But if he has already played the last game of his career, then Griffin will finish with a career average of 7.5 points and nearly two rebounds.

Now that AJ is reportedly retiring, the Rockets have an open roster spot that they can use to add another solid player. But as it turns out, they are in no rush to fill that empty spot and will reportedly remain patient and flexible in the market. Moreover, teams are set to begin their training camps in a few days and there is expected to be a lot of movement and available players, which the Rockets will be assessing closely.

They are also equipped with a full non-taxpayer mid-level exception which they could use to add a pivotal player to their already talented team. While they missed the playoffs last season, the Rockets showed immense potential for growth by finishing with a .500 record. And they are only expected to get better next season.

As far as AJ Griffin goes, his hooping days in the league might be over and he looks set to embark on a new journey on his own terms. What are your thoughts on his early retirement?