AJ Griffin is apparently pursuing a different career.

Former Atlanta Hawks forward Griffin revealed in a video post on his YouTube page this week why he recently made the seemingly sudden decision to retire from the NBA at just 21 years old. Griffin said he is dedicating his life to Jesus Christ and would like to become a full-time preacher.

“I gave up basketball to follow Jesus,” Griffin said. “I know this seems like a loss in many people’s eyes… But I just want to tell you that I’m super excited because I can really serve God with my full ‘yes’.”

“I feel like giving up basketball will allow me to go into full-time ministry and really serve the Lord with all my heart and all my time,” Griffin added. “I’m just excited to see where this takes me.”

You can watch Griffin’s full seven-minute video on the topic here.

Griffin, a former five-star recruit who played one season at Duke, was the Hawks’ No. 16 overall pick in 2022. He spent a total of two seasons with Atlanta, averaging a total of 7.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game before officially deciding to retire from basketball earlier this month.

After receiving $7.5 million from Atlanta but still having another $9.6 million left on his rookie contract, Griffin, the son of former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin, is forging a new path in life a. His story is reminiscent of that of another former NBA player who also left for religious reasons.