Former Hawks 1st-round pick considering drastic next step for career

The Atlanta Hawks made several changes to the roster over the 2024 offseason. One of the more unheralded moves was trading former first-round pick AJ Griffin to the Houston Rockets in a three-team deal that netted rookie guard Nikola Djurisic. 

Griffin, the No. 16 overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, appeared in 2K25 Summer League with the Rockets. But the 6-foot-6 swingman from Duke is now considering taking time away.

“Just in: Houston Rockets F AJ Griffin is seriously considering stepping away from basketball, sources tell me and @KellyIko,” The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on X on September 12. “Griffin, 21, was the No. 16 pick in the 2022 NBA draft to Atlanta, then traded to Houston this summer. Sides are preparing for his departure from the game.”

Griffin went from a key piece of the rotation as a rookie to an afterthought in 2023-24.

He struggled with his shot and on the defensive end of the floor. Griffin also dealt with personal issues that led to him stepping away from the Hawks for a bit during the season. He returned for the end of the campaign, but his fate with the team already seemed sealed.

Landry Fields addressed AJ Griffin's status during 2023-24 season

“Everyone's well aware AJ had some personal things that he … went through this season,” Fields told reporters at the trade deadline. “It's unfortunate and we wanted to first and foremost make sure that he – AJ the human – is okay. 

“We're continuously laying out his development pathway to bring it down a little bit more, specifically on the defensive end. That's a growth area for AJ. Everyone knows he's an elite shooter; unbelievable shooter for where he's at at this stage of his career. But in order for him to continuously maximize himself and for us to be maximized, we're going to have to lean into the defensive aspect of his game.”

Griffin averaged 8.9 points and shot 39.6% on 3.6 attempts from beyond the arc in nearly 20 minutes per game across 72 appearances with 12 starts.

He averaged 2.4 PPG and shot 25.6% from deep in 2023-24.

Griffin averaged 11.6 points with the Rockets in Summer League. He saw over 24 minutes per game but still struggled with his outside shot, connecting on 28% of his looks from long distance. 

AJ Griffin seemingly undone by strong stretch from Hawks Teammate

Summer League stats do not translate to the regular season. For Griffin, though, it was a continuation of one of the key issues that spoiled his tenure with the Hawks.

He had even been overtaken in the rotation by veteran journeyman Garrison Mathews.

Hawks head coach Quin Snyder praised Mathews’ ability to impact the game in other ways even when he (Mathews) was not scoring the basketball. This is where Griffin’s deficiencies likely did him in.

“Garrison had a game where he played 1:30, and it was an important 1:30,” Snyder told reporters after a win over the San Antonio Spurs in November. “Sometimes you say that, and people ... roll their eyes. But 1:30 became however many, 10 [minutes] tonight. And we need anybody who comes in the game to compete.”

Griffin is a deeply religious individual, often posting videos of himself reciting and discussing biblical scripture. 

Whatever is next for him, hopefully, it is positive.