AJ Griffin is leaving the Rockets and will be waived soon

A.J. Griffin, a former first-round lottery selection, is leaving the NBA and will be dismissed by the Houston Rockets. The report claims that the Rockets will buy out his 2024–25 contract, which was valued at $3.9 million. The 21-year-old Griffin was thinking about retiring because of personal and family problems. Following his freshman year at Duke, Griffin was chosen by the Atlanta Hawks with the 16th overall choice in the 2022 NBA Draft. As a rookie, he averaged 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists over 19.5 minutes in 72 games (12 starts).

He had a sharp decline in his stats in his second season. He averaged 2.4 points, 8.6 minutes, less than one assist and one rebound a game over 20 games. On June 27, as part of a three-team transaction that also included the Miami Heat, the Hawks sent Griffin to Houston. Midway through his debut season and with a 30-13 record, he was sacked in January.