Report: AJ Griffin 'seriously considering' leaving NBA after Rockets trade | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

The 2024–25 season was supposed to be AJ Griffin's third in the NBA, but reports suggest his career could be over.

Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported Thursday that the Houston Rockets forward is “seriously considering retiring from basketball.”

Houston acquired him in an offseason trade from the Atlanta Hawks, but Charania noted that “teams are preparing for his departure from the game.”

Expectations were high for Griffin when the Hawks selected him with the No. 16 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. After all, he was named to the ACC All-Freshman selection during his only season at Duke as someone who could stretch the field or attack off the jump, which posed a matchup problem for opposing defenses.

He also delivered solid results in his rookie season, averaging 8.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 72 games and 12 starts, shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc.

However, Griffin's role was drastically reduced in his second season, as he averaged 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds in just 20 appearances.

Atlanta traded him to Houston in a three-team deal with the Miami Heat, and there was certainly hope that he could rediscover his form and develop into a contributor for the Rockets. He is only 21 years old and joined a young core of players including Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green, Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr., to name a few.

Griffin's long-range shots could have worked well in Houston as defenders closed in on Şengün, Smith and Green, creating additional space.

Unfortunately, the Rockets won't get the chance to watch the game if he leaves at the end.