HIGHLY-RATED NBA star AJ Griffin has retired from basketball at the age of 21 to dedicate his life to Jesus Christ.

Griffin was a first-round draft pick in 2022 when he was chosen 16th overall by the Atlanta Hawks on a four-year contract worth a whopping $17,106,137 (£12,790,315).

NBA prospect AJ Griffin has retired from basketball at the age of 21Credit: Getty

Griffin has traded the NBA riches for a life devoting God as a ministerCredit: Getty

However, the American prospect swapped all the NBA riches for a life of devotion to God as he decided to become a full-time minister.

Griffin said on his YouTube channel: “To bring it all down to a short summary, I gave up basketball to follow Jesus.

“I know that in a lot of people’s eyes, this seems like a loss, but I just want to let you guys know I’m super excited because I truly get to serve God with my full Yes.

“I feel like letting go of basketball is allowing me to go into full-time ministry and truly serve the Lord with all my heart, with all my time too, as well. I’m just excited where that leads me.

“I just want to go through the steps of how I came to this realization that I want to let go of basketball and follow God.

“This really has to start off with me giving my life to Christ in 2020. I truly accepted him back then, He found me.

“I know we say we find God, but He finds us.”

Griffin is set to undergo a massive change as a former five-star recruit who played for one season at Duke.