AJ Griffin Retires from NBA for Ministry

AJ Griffin, former first-round pick of the Atlanta Hawks, has retired from the NBA at age 21 to pursue his faith in Jesus Christ. Griffin announced his decision in a YouTube video, explaining that stepping away from basketball will allow him to dedicate himself fully to ministry. He played 92 games in the NBA, with an impressive rookie season but struggled in his sophomore year. Griffin was traded to the Houston Rockets in the offseason but agreed to a buyout and was subsequently waived. His decision mirrors that of other players like Darren Collison, who also left the NBA for religious reasons. Griffin's departure has been met with respect and support from the basketball community.