Rockets 21-year-old former lottery pick shockingly expected to retire just months after trading for him

One of the most talented players selected in the 2022 NBA Draft is heavily considering retirement after two seasons in the NBA.

Many NBA players dream their whole lives for the chance to hear their names called on draft night. And while some draft picks get the ability to have long careers in the league, others often have to hang up their sneakers before they get a chance to showcase their talent.

AJ Griffin was drafted 16th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Duke prodigy entered the league with the talent to be a steal in the middle of the first round. And after an impressive rookie season, averaging 8.9 points on 46.5% shooting from field goal range and 39% from three, the forward looked poised for a second-year leap.

However, the ACC product saw limited production in 2023 after an injury ended his season. In just 20 games that year, Griffin averaged 2.4 points on 29% shooting. Between his early struggles and the injury, Atlanta opted to move the young player on draft night in a trade with the Rockets. But after just two seasons under his belt, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that the 21-year-old is heavily considering walking away from the game of basketball.

As the Rockets prepare for the loss of Griffin, they may look to the free agent market to bolster their wing depth with the season approaching.

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