Happy 70th Birthday Michael Ray Richardson

Photo credit: Getty Images, Focus on Sport 1980

One of the NBA’s most unique talents who helped bridge the era of the quintessential point guard to the newer breed of player celebrates a milestone birthday on April 11, as Michael Ray Richardson turns 70 years old. 

Richardson, born in Lubbock, Texas starred at Manual High School in Denver before a four-year career at the University of Montana under Jud Heathcote, who following his tenure with the Grizzlies would go on to coach Magic Johnson at Michigan State. In his four years with the Grizzlies, Richardson averaged 17.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, shooting 49%. In Richardson’s freshman year of 1974-75, the Grizzlies made the NCAA Tournament, losing to a UCLA team that included future NBA All-Star Marques Johnson. As a senior in 1977-78, Richardson averaged 24.2 points on 48% shooting. 

In 1978, Richardson was drafted fourth overall by the New York Knicks, two slots ahead of Larry Bird. Richardson turned out to be one of five All-Stars from his draft class, along with Bird, Maurice Cheeks, Reggie Theus, and Mike Mitchell. 

After playing sparingly as a rookie under head coach Red Holzman (who took over for Willis Reed in 1978, 14 games into the season), Richardson played all 82 games (37.3 minutes per game) as a second-year player, averaging 15.3 points, 10.1 assists, and 3.2 steals. His assist and steal averages led the NBA as he became the first player in league history to lead the league in both categories in the same season. 

In New York, Richardson was an all-star three out of four seasons, pairing with Ray Williams to create one of the league’s most electric, if not the most electric, backcourts. 

After a 1981-82 season where he averaged 17.9 points, 7.0 assists, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.6 steals (46% shooting), Richardson was dealt to the Golden State Warriors for Bernard King. 

On February 6, 1983, Richardson was traded from the Warriors to the New Jersey Nets for Mickey Johnson and Eric “Sleepy” Floyd. 

In New Jersey, playing for head coach Stan Albeck, Richardson would recapture the glory that he had in New York, named an All-Star for the fourth and final time in 1984-85, averaging a career-best 20.1 points to go along with 8.2 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.0 steals while playing all 82 games and being named the NBA’s Comeback Player of the Year. The playoffs prior, in 1984, the Nets defeated the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers in the first round in five games. Richardson scored 32 points (9 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 12-for-23) in the 116-102 Net victory in Game 2, and for the series averaged 20.6 points, 8.6 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.2 steals on 49% shooting while playing 42.4 minutes per game. The series win is considered one of the best moments in New Jersey Nets’ history.

The following season (1985-86), Richardson averaged 15.7 points, 7.2 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 steals (47%) playing 47 games in what would be his final NBA season as he was he was banned from the league for drug use in February of 1986.

14.8 points, 7.0 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.6 steals were Richardson’s NBA averages in eight NBA seasons (556 games). His 2.6 steals per game average as a Knick are a franchise record, and his 2.7 steal average as a Net is also a franchise record. In both the 1979-80 and the 1981-82 seasons, Richardson recorded seven triple-doubles. His 18 career triple-doubles as a Knick are second in franchise history behind Walt Frazier’s 23. 

Though reinstated by commissioner David Stern in 1988, Richardson would never play again in the NBA. He played the 1987-88 season with the Continental Basketball Association’s Albany Patroons, leading the Patroons to the 1988 CBA Championship on a team that also included one-time NBA veterans and future head coaches Rick Carlisle and Scott Brooks. The Patroons were head coached by Bill Musselman. 

In 1988, Richardson took his talents overseas, embarking on a successful international playing career that saw him suit up in Italy, Croatia, and France. In Europe, Richardson won the French Federation Cup, FIBA Saporta Cup, LNB Pro A title, Italian Cup, and Croatia Cup. In 1989, he was the Lega Basket Serie A steals leader, and was a 3-time LBA All-Star from 1988-90. He also made the ULEB All-Star Game in 1993 and 1994, and was All-Star Game MVP in 1988 and 1993. 

After wrapping up his playing career in 2002, Richardson served as an ambassador for the Denver Nuggets, and transitioned into his third act - a highly successful coaching career. From 2004-07, he head coached the Patroons, and for 2007-08 coached the CBA’s Oklahoma Cavalry before the franchise became known as the Lawton Fort-Sill Cavalry. Richardson coached the Cavalry franchise until 2011, guiding the Cavalry to the CBA title in 2008 and 2009 while in 2010 being named CBA Coach of the Year. 

In August of 2011, it was announced that a new professional basketball league would be formed in Canada, the National Basketball League of Canada. With that, Richardson’s coaching journey took him from Oklahoma to London, Ontario, where he coached the London Lightning from 2011-2014, leading the franchise to back-to-back championships in the league’s first two seasons (2011-12 and 2012-13). In those two seasons, he was named NBL Canada Coach of the Year as his teams went 28-8 and 33-7 in those two seasons and led the league in attendance and scoring and many other categories. One of the Lightning’s best players was Rodney Buford, a 1999 draft pick of the Miami Heat who played five seasons in the NBA. In Oklahoma, Richardson coached the late NBA veteran Oliver Miller, and in Albany coached former NBA forward Jamario Moon.

Richardson’s connection to the Lightning is a personal one for myself, as I worked two seasons for the Lightning in their communications department, doing statistics and some scouting. Richardson’s imprint on the team was ever present, and his presence as a former NBA star endeared himself to fans and the public. He would do radio appearances, and his suits, shoes and running commentary and conversation with the officials and the Lightning fans made him the most identifiable piece of the franchise and provided the fans with a fun experience. Richardson had been a winner prior to the Lightning, and he brought a certain air of success and credibility to the franchise and the league. The Lightning are now 7-time champions of the league, and that sustained success does not happen without Richardson first arriving in London and bringing instant credibility to the franchise and setting a winning tone. 

In 2024, Richardson published an autobiography with author Jake Uitti titled Banned: How I Squandered An All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption. The book is a great read that goes in-depth on Richardson’s childhood, trials and tribulations, and ultimately his life redemption. The book includes commentary on Richardson from his friends Bob McAdoo, Spencer Haywood, Reggie Theus, Nancy Lieberman, George Gervin, and some of Richardson’s family. 

Richardson and his former Net teammate and good friend Otis Birdsong continue to run Ball Stars Youth Camps in New Jersey and Florida in the summers, a week long, free basketball clinic. One of Richardson’s sons, Amir, age 23, is a midfielder for Serie A’s Florentina. He represented Morocco at last year’s Olympic Games.

One of the NBA’s great passers and defensive guards who was in the mold of Magic Johnson, "Sugar" left an NBA legacy as one of the most dynamic point guards in history. Away from the NBA, he flourished overseas and was a winning coach in the minor leagues when at one point his odds for long-term success in life looked slim. His story is one of perseverance, a testament to always pushing forward and not giving up. 

Happy 70th, Michael Ray Richardson.