AJ Griffin explains why he is leaving NBA: ‘I gave up basketball to comply with Jesus’
By Kevin Mercer Sep 30, 2024
AJ Griffin (14) shoots in a recreation, Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photograph/Michael Conroy)
Earlier this month, reviews started to swirl that Houston Rockets small ahead AJ Griffin — the No. 16 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks within the 2022 NBA Draft — was contemplating retiring from the NBA. Then final week, those reports were confirmed.
On Saturday in a video posted to YouTube, the 21-year-old defined in his personal phrases why he has determined to step away from basketball.
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“I gave up basketball to comply with Jesus,” he said in the video. “I do know that … it looks like a loss on this planet’s eyes, however I simply need to allow you to guys know that I’m tremendous excited as a result of I actually get to serve God with my full ‘sure.’
“Letting go of basketball has allowed me to enter full-time ministry and actually serving the Lord with all my coronary heart. With all my time too.”
Griffin then proceeded to clarify the steps that finally led him to make this choice.
“This actually has to begin off with me giving my life to Christ in 2020,” he mentioned. “I actually accepted Him again then. He discovered me. I do know we are saying we discover God, however He finds us. … It was the perfect choice of my life.”
Basketball was his all the things, Griffin mentioned. However as God labored in his coronary heart, he started to know that his final objective was to glorify Him. As he grew in non secular maturity, so too did the platform that basketball afforded to inform others in regards to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“I simply need to proceed to maintain sharing the excellent news of the Gospel to as many individuals as I can,” he mentioned. “I feel now (in retirement) I’m in a position to have my full devotion to the Lord. I need to attain individuals extra by my platforms.”
Griffin has been one of the most outspoken followers of Christ within the NBA, with nearly all of his posts on X, on Instagram and on TikTok about his religion in Jesus.
Don’t be overcome by evil, however overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:21
— AJ Griffin (@whoisAG21) July 14, 2024
@ajgriffin_14 Jesus is the way in which, the reality and the life✝️🤍#fyp #jesuslovesyou
Griffin was a five-star recruit in 2021 out of Archbishop Stepinac Excessive Faculty in White Plains, New York, and he dedicated to play faculty basketball at Duke. He helped lead the Blue Devils to the Final Four throughout his one and only season there (2021-22), the final for legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Griffin spent two seasons with the Hawks within the NBA, averaging 7.5 factors and 1.9 rebounds per recreation in 92 profession video games performed, earlier than being traded to the Houston Rockets in June. He performed 5 video games for the Rockets’ summer time league workforce this previous July.
As Griffin mirrored on his basketball journey in his newest video, he acknowledged God’s goodness by all of it.
“I used to be allowed by God’s grace and mercy to unfold the excellent news of the Gospel wherever I went,” he mentioned. “… I used to be tremendous blessed to have the ability to be part of these journeys of my life. I’m simply grateful. I don’t remorse something. I actually am blessed to have that journey and have that testimony of claiming that, ‘You possibly can have all of the riches on this planet, however the one factor that really issues is your relationship with Jesus.’”
He continued later: “Jesus, He’s the one One that may fulfill you. He’s the one One which can provide you objective. I really feel just like the Lord was calling me to let go of basketball actually simply to serve Him extra.”
Griffin made certain in his video to thank everybody who cared for him and supported him throughout his time within the NBA and past.
“I’m doing good and I’m excited simply to proceed to maintain doing the work of the Lord,” he mentioned whereas concluding his video. “I hope this video additionally encourages people to not live in fear, as a result of I feel concern tries to cease lots of people from pursuing what they know God has advised them to do. I simply need to be an encouragement to walk by faith and not by sight. God, He’s the One which truly provides. He’s the One who takes away and gives, so simply know that it’s all working out for your good.
“Don’t fear in regards to the outside noise. Focus in your private relationship with Jesus and all the things else shall be added. [Matthew 6:33] says, ‘First search the dominion of God and His righteousness, and all this stuff shall be added to you.’”
Together with his choice to retire, Griffin shall be waived and his contract purchased out. He’ll see a fraction of the $3.9 million he was set to make in 2024-25.
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