The Houston Rockets recently waived former first-round pick AJ Griffin

The Houston Rockets recently waived former first-round pick AJ Griffin, signaling a surprising turn in his career. After being bought out by the Rockets, a report from NBA insider Shams Charania revealed that Griffin is stepping away from basketball to contemplate his long-term future. This news came as a shock to many, including former NFL star Chad Johnson, also known as "Chad Ochocinco." Johnson expressed his dismay by posting a broken heart emoji on social media, reacting to a post that highlighted Griffin’s decision. Johnson himself is a celebrated athlete, earning six Pro Bowl appearances and three All-Pro selections over an 11-year NFL career.

Griffin joined the Rockets during the offseason as part of a draft-day trade that saw Nikola Djurisic heading to Atlanta. Despite his potential, Griffin struggled in his second NBA season, playing just 20 games and averaging 2.4 points in 8.6 minutes per game.