AJ Griffin, 21, was chosen by the Atlanta Hawks because the No. 16 choose within the 2022 NBA Draft.
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AJ Griffin
A former first-round NBA draft choose is leaving basketball to turn into a minister.
AJ Griffin, who was chosen by the Atlanta Hawks because the sixteenth choose within the first spherical of the 2022 NBA Draft, introduced in a video Sunday that he abandons sport “to comply with Jesus”.
“I gave up basketball to comply with Jesus,” Griffin stated. “And I do know to lots of people it seems to be like a loss within the eyes of the world. However I simply wish to let you realize that I am tremendous excited as a result of I can actually serve God, you realize, with my ‘sure » complete, and I really feel like giving up basketball permits me to enter full-time ministry and really serve the Lord with all my coronary heart, with all my time too. see the place this takes me.
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AJ Griffin
Griffin used his seven-minute video to clarify his determination and what led to it.
“This determination could seem loopy or irregular to the world, however I’m not right here to please man however solely my Heavenly Father,” he wrote within the video description.
Griffin, who entered the NBA draft after a stellar freshman season at Duke College in 2021, says he “gave [his] life to Christ in 2020” and a “really accepted” faith through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He discovered me,” Griffin smiles as he explains what occurred subsequent. “I gave my life to Christ and it was really the perfect determination of my life. I believe my values began to vary, my coronary heart began to vary.
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Griffin, the son of a former NBA coach and participant Adrian Griffinstated basketball was his complete life earlier than discovering faith in 2020. “It was what I lived for,” Griffin stated, and famous that when he discovered God, he realized that his ardour was faith.
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In recent times, the basketball star has used his social media platforms to learn from the Bible, talk about faith, and share motivational non secular recommendation.
“You possibly can see how a lot I really like spreading the excellent news of the Gospel as a result of I understand how a lot it has modified my life,” Griffin stated in his announcement video, and added: “I wish to attain extra individuals by way of my platforms. I believe that sums up my testimony as to why I left basketball.
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AJ Griffin
Griffin was lately traded from Atlanta to the Houston Rockets, the place he struggled through the NBA’s summer time league season. in response to CBS Sports activities. THE Houston Chronicle reported Earlier this month, the Rockets purchased out Griffin’s contract for $250,000, ending his temporary tenure with the group.
Now, it seems Griffin is leaving basketball altogether.
“Thanks to everybody who has been part of this journey,” Griffin wrote within the description of his video. “As I exit one season of my life, I’m excited to enter a brand new one with my lord and savior.”
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