AJ Griffin Retires
- Thread starter BigZ
- Start date
NYBri
Member
When you say “our,” you speak for yourself.
JasonEvans
Host, The Duke Basketball Roundup
Let's make this thread a little less aggressive. Tone it down, folks.
AJ has chosen a different profession than basketball. Whether he had chosen medicine or police work or flower arranging or becoming a priest/minister we should respect and admire him for making the difficult choice to do what his heart told him and ignore the financial benefits of being a pro athlete. Think about how powerful the call of the church must be for AJ to do this. I'm not sure I care about any career that much.
AJ has chosen a different profession than basketball. Whether he had chosen medicine or police work or flower arranging or becoming a priest/minister we should respect and admire him for making the difficult choice to do what his heart told him and ignore the financial benefits of being a pro athlete. Think about how powerful the call of the church must be for AJ to do this. I'm not sure I care about any career that much.
Truth&Justise
Member
I don't fully understand the decision--he has a very limited window of time to make a lucrative career playing basketball and a lifetime afterward to pursue other interests--but if this is what he wants, then I wish him the best.
He was just recently waived by the Rockets after an underwhelming summer league. Not saying he couldn't have gotten a contract with someone else (because he probably could have), but it's not like he walked away from an existing $50M contract out of the blue or anything. Still, he clearly made an unconventional decision that he thinks is best for him.
This can’t be true. I see that he was set to make $3.9 million guaranteed this year and the rockets bought out this year of his contract for $250k. Maybe someone with more knowledge can shed some light.
Thanks for the correction. I relied on one article I read, but I admit not following it that closely. I just saw a "got waived and $250k buyout." Seems like I should have been more diligent. Sorry about that folks!
From the NY Times:
"In a surprising turn of events with less than two weeks to go until training camps open around the NBA, 21-year-old Houston Rockets forward A.J. Griffin is stepping away from basketball. He will subsequently be waived by the franchise via contract buyout, giving up a significant portion of the $3.9 million he was owed for the upcoming 2024-25 season, per a team source."
Seems like the order was "I want to retire and THEN waived." Not the other way around.
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rsvman
Member
Well, according to a very well known book, the love of money is the root of all evil. So if he wants to be a minister/pastor/reverand, bypassing a large paycheck in order to do so is kinda on point.
Even if it is almost certainly not what I could see myself doing in his shoes, I have a great deal of respect for anybody who walks the walk rather than talking the talk, regardless of what the pursuit is.
Even if it is almost certainly not what I could see myself doing in his shoes, I have a great deal of respect for anybody who walks the walk rather than talking the talk, regardless of what the pursuit is.
Music man55
Member
Well said Jason! It really is nobody’s business but his if that is what his heart is telling him to do.
But people are free to voice their opinions as long as they aren’t particularly nasty.
I really don’t care what he does but I wouldn’t be able to pass up that kind of money. His dad/family already have some money so maybe that helped push him to give up the cash in the end and do what he wants. He will live a very nice, fulfilling life.
Edouble
Member
Is it money or the love of money? I am genuinely asking because the millions AJ would make from playing any additional years in the NBA, even just finishing out his rookie contract, would go a really long way towards funding a ministry or mission work.
I guess AJ is taking a grassroots approach, but money talks, and money makes things happen. They pass that collection plate around every Sunday.
The Bible says, the love of money is the root of all evil. Having money is not evil. I'm proud of AJ and wish him well in leading people to Christ.
God bless and GoDuke!
sagegrouse
Member
His future superiors in his ministry would have some ideas on how to commit his NBA riches... and fame.
His Dad, of course, played ten years in the NBA and was head coach of the Bucks. So, I am sure the family is well off, and he is not wanting for good advice, assuming, as I do, that he is open to receiving it.
I don't remember if this board discussed the death of AJ's brother, Alain's, son, which apparently happened this past January while in the care of Alain and AJ's parents (all 3 of them). The mother of the child seems to think they were negligent. I wonder if the stress of that family tragedy is contributing to this step toward a religious life?
nmduke2001
Member
When the news broke the other day, I was going to say something about thinking AJ would turn to the ministry. His social media is mostly about Christ and bible passages. I'm not surprised at all. That's really following your faith.
JasonEvans
Host, The Duke Basketball Roundup
It is worth noting that AJ has made over $7 million in his short NBA career thus far. I do not know how he has invested it or how much he has spent, but that is a heck of a nest egg with which to start a life in the ministry.