A.J. Griffin is making the decision to step away from basketball and will be released by the Houston Rockets. The Rockets will be reaching a buyout agreement with Griffin, who will be giving up a significant portion of the $3.9 million he was set to earn for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
Griffin had previously hinted at leaving the NBA due to personal and family reasons, although the specifics were not disclosed. He was selected as the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by Duke and was initially with the Atlanta Hawks.
During the offseason, Griffin was traded from the Hawks to the Rockets and participated in five games in the Summer League. However, as the start of training camp neared, Griffin’s presence at the practice facility dwindled.
The Rockets currently do not have any immediate plans to fill the roster spot left vacant by Griffin’s departure.
