In a video posted on his YouTube channel, AJ Griffin, the former first-round NBA draft pick, shared the deeply personal reasons behind his decision to retire from professional basketball at the young age of 21. Griffin, who was drafted 16th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2022, revealed that his choice was driven by a profound spiritual calling.
Griffin explained that his decision to leave basketball was rooted in his desire to follow Jesus and pursue a life dedicated to ministry.
“I gave up basketball to follow Jesus,”
Griffin stated in his video. He expressed that while this decision might seem like a loss in the eyes of the world, it was a gain in his spiritual journey. Griffin realized that his true calling was not on the basketball court but in serving others through his faith. Griffin’s announcement has been met with a mix of surprise and admiration from fans and fellow athletes alike.
Griffin’s new path involves becoming a full-time minister. He shared that this decision brings him immense peace and fulfillment, even though it means stepping away from a promising basketball career.
“I know that in a lot of people’s eyes, this seems like a loss, but I just wanted to let you guys know that I’m at peace with this decision,” Griffin said.
