20 Second Timeout

Remembering Michael Ray Richardson, Who Excelled at Both Ends of the Court

Four-time NBA All-Star Michael Ray Richardson* passed away today at the age of 70, not long after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. He led the NBA in assists (10.1 apg) in just his second season (1980), and he led the league in steals three times (1980, 1983, 1985). Richardson was not a great outside shooter, but his size and quickness made him very difficult to stop when he drove to the hoop, and trapping him was ineffective because of his superior skills as a ballhandler and passer. He was also a tenacious defender who made the All-Defensive First Team in 1980 and 1981.

Despite his skills and accomplishments, Richardson will forever be remembered for being banned for life by the NBA in 1986 for drug use, and for his brutally honest comment about the New York Knicks' prospects during a rough stretch: "The ship be sinking" Richardson said, adding "The sky's the limit" after he was asked how far it could go.

The Knicks selected Richardson fourth overall in the 1978 NBA Draft after he averaged 24.2 ppg and 6.9 apg as a senior at Montana. He averaged 6.5 ppg and 3.0 apg in limited playing time as a rookie before blossoming into one of the league's top point guards in his second season, averaging 15.3 ppg along with leading the league in assists (10.1 apg) and steals (3.2 spg). In 1980-81, the Knicks went 50-32 and reached the playoff for the first time since 1978 as Richardson contributed 16.4 ppg, 7.9 apg (fourth in the league) 6.9 rpg, and 2.9 spg (second in the league). The Knicks slumped to 33-49 in 1981-82, prompting Richardson's famous assessment of their dismal prospects. Richardson averaged 17.9 ppg, 7.0 apg (10th in the league), 6.9 rpg, and 2.6 spg (third in the league) that season while playing in all 82 games. 

On October 22, 1982, the Knicks shipped Richardson and a 1984 fifth round draft pick to Golden State for Bernard King, who later became one of the most beloved players in Knicks' history. Richardson played just 33 games for Golden State before the Warriors traded him to the New Jersey Nets for Sleepy Floyd and Mickey Johnson.

Drug addiction and stints in drug rehabilitation limited Richardson to 48 regular season games in 1983-84, but when the playoffs rolled around he was in peak form; perhaps the highlight of Richardson's career is when he led the Nets to a shocking first round upset of the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers, a powerful squad featuring Hall of Famers Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, and Bobby Jones. After the Nets stunned the 76ers 116-101 in Philadelphia in game one, 76ers coach Billy Cunningham declared, "There is not really a lot I can say. They outplayed us in every phase of the game." Cunningham lamented his team's defensive breakdowns: "Michael Ray Richardson was doing things to us that we don't let Magic Johnson do." The Nets won game two 116-102 as Richardson scored a game-high 32 points, passed for a game-high nine assists, grabbed seven rebounds and swiped four steals. He shot 12-23 from the field, including 3-7 from three point range. The 76ers rallied to win games three and four in New Jersey to set up an elimination game in Philadelphia (first round series were best of five at that time). Richardson scored a game-high 24 points and had six rebounds, six assists, and a game-high six steals as the Nets won, 101-98. Richardson averaged 20.6 ppg, 8.6 apg, 5.2 rpg, and 4.2 spg during the series while shooting .494 from the field in 42.4 mpg. Richardson's numbers slipped to 13.7 ppg, 6.0 apg, and 4.7 rpg in the second round as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Nets, 4-2. 

In 1985, Richardson made the All-Star team for the first time since 1982, averaging 20.1 ppg, 8.2 apg (sixth in the league), 5.6 rpg, and 3.0 spg (first in the league). The Nets slipped from 45-37 to 42-40, but still made the playoffs. The Detroit Pistons swept the Nets 3-0. Richardson averaged 18.3 ppg, 11.3 apg, and 6.0 rpg in that series.

Richardson, who played all 82 games in three of his eight seasons and who played at least 3000 minutes in four seasons, appeared in just 47 games in the 1985-86 season before being suspended by the team for his ongoing drug abuse problem. NBA Commissioner David Stern later banned Richardson for life for repeated violations of the league's drug abuse policies.  

After being banned from the NBA, Richardson cleaned up his life, and he played in European professional leagues until he was 46. He later thanked David Stern for saving his life. After Richardson finished playing, he coached the Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry (formerly the Oklahoma City Cavalry) to two CBA titles and one Premier Basketball League title.

I met Richardson at the 2009 NBA Legends Brunch, and I told him that as a kid I rooted for the 76ers but respected how well he played in that 1984 playoff series. Richardson's career averages of 14.8 ppg, 7.0 apg (31st in ABA/NBA history), 5.5 rpg, and 2.6 spg (second in ABA/NBA history behind only Alvin Robertson) provide just a fleeting glimpse of the impact that he had at the height of his powers; at his best, he attacked the paint to score and facilitate, he played intense defense, and he rebounded like a forward. He was not a great outside shooter and he could be turnover prone, but he was a sight to behold when he drove to the hoop and when he hounded opposing players defensively. George Gervin, Isiah Thomas, and other players from that era speak in glowing terms about how well Richardson defended them.

It is unfortunate that Richardson's drug abuse shortened his NBA career, but it is great that he straightened himself out and had a productive life after his NBA playing days ended. 

* For decades, his first name was spelled "Micheal" in official sources, but in his 2024 autobiography Banned his first name is spelled "Michael." I have used both spellings in the labels for this post so that it will be easier to find for anyone searching online, but in the text I used "Michael."

Labels: Golden State Warriors, Michael Ray Richardson, Micheal Ray Richardson, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks

posted by David Friedman @ 4:53 PM

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