Play with NBA This is the dream of almost any basketball player in the world. The American league is the highest level, excluding national teams, that an athlete can access, and many would give anything to have the opportunity to play in it. However, there are also those who may put it on the back burner compared to other priorities in their lives. This is the case of AJ Griffinwho decided to change the glamor and money of the best basketball competition on the planet to “follow Jesus.”
It was a nice surprise in the NBA after the 21-year-old player, who was number 16 in the 2022 draft and defended the colors of the Atlanta Hawks for two seasons, decided to leave basketball to become a priest.
““I left basketball to follow Jesus.”confirmed in a video broadcast by the American media. “I know that many people seem like a loss. But I want you to know that I am very excited because I can really serve God with my complete ‘yes’ and I feel that leaving in basketball allowed me to enter the priesthood full time.”
A smart NBA career
Griffin played at Duke University before joining the NBA in 2022 with the Hawks. With the Atlanta franchise he played 72 games in his first season and only 20 in the second.
This summer he was traded to the Houston Rockets, where he did not make his debut in the regular season due to his retirement from professional sports.
In general, Griffin He ended his short time in the NBA with averages of 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists. every game for 17.1 minutes.