The Houston Rockets have decided to waive A.J. Griffin through a contract buyout, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic. It is unclear whether this break from the game is temporary or if Griffin is retiring for good. He will take his time in making a decision.
According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the buyout is worth $250,000 and the Rockets are allowing Griffin to sit out the 2024-25 season while he considers his future in basketball.
Griffin, who is just 21 years old and the son of former NBA player Adrian Griffin, was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks after one season at Duke University. He had a promising start to his NBA career, showcasing his shooting skills by averaging nine points on 39% 3-point shooting in 20 minutes per game as a rookie. He even scored a career-best 24 points twice and started in 12 games.
However, last season he only played in 20 games before being traded to the Houston Rockets this summer. Unfortunately, Griffin struggled with his performance during the Las Vegas Summer League in July.
The decision for Griffin to step away from basketball entirely comes as a surprise considering his potential and early success in the league. Only time will tell if he decides to return or if this marks an end to his professional basketball career.
