Top Story: Shocking Announcement About Young Exciting Rockets Player Leaves Us Speechless
Every NBA career unfolds uniquely, with players taking various paths. The Houston Rockets have experienced a range of player departures and arrivals.
However, it’s unusual to see a third-year player consider retirement. By this stage, players are typically nearing their peak performance. Even after a potential sophomore slump, we generally expect them to be prepared for their third season.
AJ Griffin of the Rockets may be an exception to this norm. NBA insider Shams Charania has reported that Griffin is actively contemplating retirement.
What?
Will the Rockets Miss Griffin This Year?
It’s hard to gauge what to make of this situation. While we shouldn’t jump to conclusions, it seems there might be off-court issues affecting Griffin. As a second-generation NBA player, he may feel less passion for the game than expected and perhaps feels compelled to follow this career path. Regardless of the reason, it appears he might be stepping back from basketball.
Griffin’s NBA Journey
Whether the Rockets will miss him depends on which version of Griffin they would have received.
The 16th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Griffin had a promising rookie year, averaging 8.9 points with a 39.0% three-point shooting rate while providing solid defense for the Hawks. However, last season was a struggle, as he averaged just 2.4 points and shot only 25.6% from beyond the arc—a significant drop.
Typically, such struggles wouldn’t warrant retirement. Players usually aim to rebound in their third year. Unfortunately, Griffin didn’t seem poised for a comeback during this year’s Summer League, where his performance fell flat. If that was the type of player the Rockets were expecting in 2024-25, he likely wouldn’t have played much.
Should the Rockets Regret Trading for Him?
The Rockets traded a minimal asset—a 44th overall draft pick—for Griffin. Generally, such picks don’t see much playing time, making this trade of limited significance.
Ultimately, we wish Griffin the best. Retiring at 21 raises concerns, and we hope he is prioritizing his well-being. For the Rockets, this development is somewhat surprising but may not have a major impact.