AJ Griffin showed plenty of exemplary traits that could have him drafted quite high in the 2022 NBA Draft. Coming out of high school in New York as a five-star recruit (or four-star depending on some outlets), Griffin headed to Duke. The Blue Devils, of course, have a stellar reputation for developing NBA-level talent and Griffin is yet another name on the impressive list.
AJ Griffin 2022 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Griffin chose Duke over other perennial powerhouses such as Kentucky and Villanova. He was joining a star-studded team, meaning he knew his contributions would decrease but his development could climb quickly.
In his freshman year, Griffin averaged 10.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. This came in about 24 minutes on the floor. He also had a very strong shooting split of 49/45/79. A couple of notable performances towards the end of the season were a 21-point night over Miami in the ACC Championship game where Griffin hit four threes. Another was an 18-point downpour against Arkansas in the March Madness Elite Eight.
Griffin was named on the ACC All-Freshman team after his lone season at Duke.
Strengths
First off, Griffin is a terrific shooter. Shooting 45 percent from three in ACC basketball isn’t a fluke. An open Griffin likely means a made three. This, of course, is one of the most attractive skills for NBA teams today.
He’s a pure shooter, but Griffin is also built like a true athlete. Everything from his size to his frame is impressive, which will be alluring to teams on draft night. His athleticism can be through the roof, so teams will look to develop him as more than just a long-range shooter. The tools are there for Griffin to be an all-around star.
Griffin is also a very strong defender, from awareness to versatility. He’ll take on any defensive assignment and do it well. Due to this, Griffin looks like the ideal “three-and-d” mold, which every NBA team wants and needs today. With that being said, he can be even more than that.
Weaknesses
It’s important to mention that Griffin has suffered from a number of injuries from high school to college. For this reason, his athleticism is described as something that “can” be through the roof. He’s still only 18-years-old, so there’s plenty of time to fully recover.
He remains coordinated, but the explosiveness in college wasn’t as great as it was in high school. Again, this can be fixed.
Finally, Griffin can improve his participation in the offense besides being a shooter lingering behind the three-point line. There’s a pathway for him to rack up more assists as well as get to the free-throw line more often.
NBA Player Comparison for AJ Griffin
At the moment, Griffin projects to be similar to the Toronto Raptors’ Gary Trent Jr. Another former Blue Devil, Trent Jr. averaged 18 points, three rebounds, and two assists for the Raptors this past season while performing as a strong shooter.
2022 NBA Draft Projection
Griffin is a surefire lottery pick, and could very well land in the top 10.
