Griffin was traded from Atlanta to Houston in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft this offseason. Last season for the Hawks, Griffin averaged 2.4 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 8.6 minutes across 20 regular-season appearances. This was a massive step down from his 2022-23 production, when he averaged 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 19.5 minutes across 72 regular-season appearances, including 12 starts. The 21-year-old forward also saw an alarming dip in his efficiency, going from posting 46.5/39.0/89.4 shooting splits as a rookie to 29.0/25.6/100.0 last year. Griffin seems unlikely to receive a significant role for the Rockets next year, as Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Tari Eason and Jae'Sean Tate all figure to feature above him in forward rotation. Unless there is a huge change in Griffin's expected role or a plethora of injuries ahead of his in the depth chart, he doesn't hold much fantasy value for 2024-25. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a two-year, $7.25 million contract with the Hawks in July of 2022. Hawks exercised $3.89 million team option for 2024-25 in October of 2023. Traded to the Rockets in June of 2024. Contract includes $5.97 million team option for 2025-26.
Personal Bio/PreCareer Summary
Adrian Darnell "AJ" Griffin Jr. was born on August 25, 2003 in Dallas. He is the son of 10-year NBA veteran, and 2021-22 Toronto Raptors assistant, Adrian Griffin. The younger Griffin played high school basketball at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York, where he teamed with his older brother, Alan, for one season. Griffin also played alongside current North Carolina standout R.J. Davis. As a junior, Griffin posted 17.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks per game before suffering a knee injury. Griffin then missed his entire senior campaign due to an ankle injury. Despite the setback, Griffin was selected to play in both the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. Deemed a consensus five-star recruit, Griffin committed to Duke University, where he played for coach Mike Krzyzewski during Krzyzewski's farewell season. Griffin started 25 of his 39 games at Duke, averaging 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.8 threes per game (44.7% 3Pt). At season's end, Griffin was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and was an Honorable Mention All-ACC performer. The 6-foot-6 Griffin was then selected 16th overall by the Atlanta Hawks during the 2022 NBA Draft.
Dealt to Houston
FHouston Rockets
June 27, 2024
The Hawks are trading Griffin to the Rockets in exchange for the No. 44 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft on Thursday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS After being a first-round pick by Atlanta in the 2022 NBA Draft, Griffin saw a minimal role in his second season with the team. In 2023-24, the 20-year-old forward averaged 2.4 points in 8.6 minutes across 20 bench appearances in the regular season. as he spent much of the season out with an ankle injury or in the G League. Trading Griffin was likely done to make room in the forward rotation after the Hawks drafted Zaccharie Risacher No. 1 overall, but there is no guarantee for minutes in Houston either.
2023 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Starting/Off Bench
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2023 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Days Rest
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2023 NBA Per Game Split Stats - Vs Opp
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2023 NBA Per Game Split Stats - By Result
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Advanced Stats
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2023
2022
Stat Review
How does AJ Griffin compare to other players?
This section compares his stats with all players from the previous three seasons (minimum 200 minutes played)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
True Shooting %
An advanced statistic that measures a player's efficiency at shooting the ball that takes field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and three point percentage into account.
Effective Field Goal %
A statistic that adjusts field goal percentage to account for the fact that three-point field goals count for three points while field goals only count for two points.
3-Point Attempt Rate
Percentage of field goal attempts from three point range.
Free Throw Rate
Number of free throw attempts per field goal attempt.
Offensive Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available offensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Defensive Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available defensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Total Rebound %
An estimate of the percentage of available rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
Assist %
An estimate of the percentage of teammate field goals a player assisted while they were on the floor.
Steal %
An estimate of the percentage of opponent possessions that end with a steal by the player while they were on the floor.
Block %
An estimate of the percentage of opponent two-point field goal attempts blocked by the player while they were on the floor.
Turnover %
An estimate of turnovers committed per 100 plays.
Usage %
An estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while they were on the floor.
Fantasy Points Per Game
NBA Fantasy Points Per Game.
Fantasy Points Per Minute
NBA Fantasy Points Per Minute.
True Shooting %
38.2%
Effective Field Goal %
37.1%
3-Point Attempt Rate
62.9%
Free Throw Rate
3.2%
Offensive Rebound %
1.2%
Defensive Rebound %
10.6%
Total Rebound %
5.7%
Assist %
3.7%
Steal %
0.3%
Block %
1.1%
Turnover %
10.5%
Usage %
0.0%
Fantasy Points Per Game
3.9
Fantasy Points Per Minute
0.5
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Total
Per Game
Per 36
NBA Historical Fantasy Stats
How are these ratings calculated?
Our historical fantasy ratings are standard scores calculated using 8-Category settings with 12 teams and 13 players per team.
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NBA Per Game Historical Fantasy Stats
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NBA Per 36 Historical Fantasy Stats
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Historical ADP
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Rockets Depth Chart
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Average Fantasy Points are determined when AJ Griffin was active vs. non-active during the season. Click here to view average fantasy points for a different time period.
Minutes
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo
FantasyDraft
Head2Head
Sorare
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring AJ Griffin See More
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
The Hawks made a huge move by trading away John Collins, and it could vault Griffin into an expanded role. This 20-year-old had a solid rookie season in Atlanta, averaging 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.6 steals across 20 minutes a night. Most of that production came in the second half of the season, with Griffin making 12 starts from December and on. In those 12 starts, Griffin provided 13.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.8 threes across 29 minutes a night. Many people believe that's what his role will look like this season because there's a void at power forward with Collins being shipped to Utah. De'Andre Hunter is expected to fill that spot, opening up minutes on the wing. We can't count out a blossoming sophomore stepping into his age-20 season and taking a major leap this year. What needs to be considered is that Griffin has a limited ceiling in this offense. Dejounte Murray and Trae Young do everything, and Griffin will have to add more rebounding and defense to his repertoire if he wants to become a fantasy-relevant player. Don't expect Griffin to get drafted, but he's definitely a player we need to keep an eye on.
A one-and-done wing out of Duke, Griffin went to the Hawks with the No. 16 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He made the ACC All-Freshman Team and ACC All-Honorable Mention Team with averages of 10.4 points on 49/45/79 shooting, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.1 combined blocks-plus-steals in 23.9 minutes. His excellent perimeter shooting and savvy offensive bag give him intriguing upside as a secondary playmaker at the NBA level. His size - 6-foot-6, 222 pounds with a seven-foot wingspan - means he has the tools to switch-defend as a pro. However, two things mainly caused him to slip down the draft board. His defense is inconsistent, and he's already dealt with many injuries. Knee and ankle injuries cost him nearly two years of high school basketball. However, at pick 16, it makes sense for Atlanta to take a chance on someone with Griffin's upside. His path to minutes as a rookie is shaky - he'll compete with Bogdan Bogdanovic, Justin Holiday and Maurice Harkless on the wing - but he may see opportunities here and there.
More Fantasy News
Nets three points in return
FAtlanta Hawks
April 13, 2024
Griffin (ankle) scored three points (1-3 FG, 1-1 3Pt) and added four rebounds and one assist across 18 minutes in Friday's 109-106 loss to the Timberwolves.
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Remains out Wednesday
FAtlanta Hawks
Ankle
April 10, 2024
Griffin (ankle) won't be available for Wednesday's game against the Hornets.
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Out another week
FAtlanta Hawks
Ankle
April 1, 2024
The Hawks announced Monday that Griffin (ankle) will be re-evaluated in 7-to-10 days.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could be on move
FAtlanta Hawks
January 31, 2024
Griffin's name has come up in trade talks between the Hawks and Knicks, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS The 16th overall pick in the 2022 Draft, Griffin showed flashes of upside as a rookie but has fallen out of Atlanta's rotation this season, and he hasn't played 10 or more minutes in a game since Nov. 28. The 20-year-old forward may need a fresh start elsewhere to get his career back on track.