"Retiring at 21 is brutal" - NBA fans react to Rockets forward AJ Griffin's reported career decision

NBA fans are surprised to learn that 21-year-old Houston Rockets forward AJ Griffin is considering retiring from basketball. The Athletic's Shams Charania shared the news on Thursday.

Griffin showed signs of becoming a solid professional player. The Atlanta Hawks drafted him 16th overall in 2022. During his rookie season, he showed fans he could contribute by averaging 8.9 points and 2.1 rebounds.

However, after two years in the league, the son of former Milwaukee Bucks coach Adrian Griffin is considering other life plans.

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Fans shared how surprised they were about the news on X.

"Retiring at 21 is brutal," one fan said.

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"Sad because he has the talent to be a rotational player," another fan shared.

"Daaam, I wonder what’s making him step away," a fan shared their concern.

Other fans shared concerns for Griffin's personal life.

"Damn, hoping everything okay 🙏🏽 Gotta respect his decision," one fan said.

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"Wishing the dude all the best as he deals with whatever this may be," another fan said.

"He had personal stuff going on last year too hope he’s good," a fan recalled.

Details of Griffin's decision to step away from basketball aren't confirmed. However, the Rockets and the forward are preparing for his departure.

Also read: Who is AJ Griffin's father Adrian Griffin? All you need to know

A look at AJ Griffin's brief NBA career

Insiders expected AJ Griffin to become a solid NBA role player. He showed potential during his rookie season with the Hawks as a 19-year-old.

Griffin played 72 games for Atlanta, starting in 12 contests. The 6-foot-6 forward made 46.5% of his shots from the field, including 39% of his 3-pointers.

Injuries marred his sophomore campaign. He appeared in 20 contests last season. During his second year in the league, Griffin averaged 2.4 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.3 assists. His shooting percentage also declined. The former Duke Blue Devil shot just 29% from the field and 25.6% from range.

During the offseason, Griffin was part of a three-team trade between Atlanta, Houston and Miami. Houston anticipated Griffin returning to full health while boosting its depth.

However, with his recent decision, it appears the NBA world will be left asking 'what if' concerning AJ Griffin.

About the author

Reign Amurao specializes in basketball at Sportskeeda, bringing 3 years of experience to his role and a Bachelor's Degree in Communication.

A fervent supporter of the Phoenix Suns, Reign was hooked to their electrifying "Seven-Seconds-Or-Less" offense, which epitomizes high-paced and high-intensity basketball. For Reign, Steve Nash is the ultimate floor general, and he believes Boris Diaw could've been the next Magic Johnson if he had a bit more discipline.

From Reign's perspective, Anthony Edwards is a 90s player stuck in modern times, and Gregg Popovich is an ultimate winner with unparalleled success and leadership in the sport.

Reign's expertise lies in NBA history, particularly the significant moments and trends of the 2000s and 2010s. He prioritizes in-depth research using only credible sources to maintain accuracy in his articles, and avoids misleading topics.

Beyond basketball, Reign enjoys gaming with friends and watches comedy shows and films.

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Edited by Joshua Broom