Former first-round pick AJ Griffin is leaving the NBA and will be released by the Houston Rockets, The Athletic reported.
According to the outlet, the Rockets will buy out his contract, worth $3.9 million for the 2024-25 season.
Previously, The Athletic reported that Griffin, 21, was considering retiring due to family and other personal issues.
The Atlanta Hawks selected Griffin with the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft following his rookie season at Duke. He played in 72 games (12 starts) and averaged 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 19.5 minutes as a rookie.
In his second season, his numbers dropped significantly. In 20 games, he averaged 2.4 points, 8.6 minutes and less than one rebound and one assist per game.
The Hawks traded Griffin to Houston on June 27 as part of a three-team trade that also involved the Miami Heat.
He participated in the NBA summer league with the Rockets, but his communication with the team has “diminished” since then, The Athletic reported.
The forward comes from an NBA family. His father, Adrian, played nine seasons in the NBA and most recently was the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. He was fired in January, halfway through his first season and with a 30-13 record.
— Field level media
2024-09-21 18:00:20
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