After just two seasons in the NBA, first-round draft pick A.J. Griffin announced he’s retiring from basketball to pursue full-time ministry. Griffin, who entered the 2022 draft after a standout freshman year at Duke, shared his plans—and the reasons behind them—on Saturday (Sept. 28).
In a seven-minute video titled “Why I Decided to Quit Basketball,” Griffin revealed he “gave up basketball to follow Jesus.” Although that might seem “like a loss in the world’s eyes,” he is “super-excited because I truly get to serve God with my full yes.”
Griffin continued, “I feel like letting go of basketball is allowing me to go into full-time ministry and truly serving the Lord with all my heart, and with all my time too.” The athlete, who said he loves spreading the gospel and wants to reach more people through his social media platforms, said he’s excited to see where this new venture leads.
A.J. Griffin Became a Christian in 2020
This career move, A.J. Griffin said, stems back to 2020, when he gave his life to Jesus. Calling that “the best decision of my life,” he said it changed his values and his heart.
Before then, basketball was “my everything,” Griffin admitted. “I thought that was the reason why I was living. But when I came to God, he truly showed me that we’re all made to glorify God,” he said. “When you come to Christ, your identity is in Christ.”
RELATED: NBA Player Adrian Griffin Jr. Tells of God’s Deliverance After Nephew’s Death
Griffin, the son of a former NBA player and coach, was selected No. 16 overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2022 NBA Draft. This summer, he was traded to the Houston Rockets. Last week, the Rockets bought out his contract and waived him, amid rumors he was leaving the sport.
In his video, Griffin addressed a question he said he’s been hearing a lot: “Why can’t you follow God and play basketball?” The athlete said although he was blessed to have on-court opportunities, “You can have all the riches in the world, but the only thing that truly matters is the relationship with Jesus.”
He added, “He’s the only one that could give you purpose, and I feel like the Lord was calling me to let go of basketball to truly just serve him more.”
Griffin thanked people for their support as he walks into a new season. He welcomed any questions about his testimony and encouraged people not to live in fear. “I think fear tries to stop a lot of people from pursuing what they know God has told them to do, and I just want to be [an] encouragement to walk by faith, not by sight,” he said, referencing 2 Corinthians 5:7.
Because God provides and works things out for good, Griffin said, Christ’s followers don’t need to worry about the “outside noise.” Referencing Matthew 6:33, he told viewers, “Focus on your personal relationship with Jesus, and everything else will be…added to you.”
NBA Hall-of-Famer, Humanitarian Dikembe Mutombo Dies at 58
In other NBA news, Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo died Monday (Sept. 30) from brain cancer at age 58. The 7-foot-2-inch center, nicknamed “Mount Mutombo,” moved to America from the Democratic Republic of the Congo at age 21. During 18 seasons in the NBA, he played for six teams.
Mutombo, who grew up in a Christian community and was described as a devout Baptist, is also being remembered for his humanitarian work. As the NBA’s first Global Ambassador, Mutombo spearheaded educational and health-care projects in his home country and beyond.
