Ex-NBA player Michael Ray Richardson passes away at 70

Michael Ray Richardson Passes Away at 70

Michael Ray Richardson, a four-time NBA All-Star, has died at the age of 70.

He played for teams like the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and New Jersey Nets before receiving an international suspension from the NBA.

The New York Knicks expressed their sadness over Richardson’s passing, noting, “He was one of the fiercest defensive players of his time and had a significant impact during his four seasons with us. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and teammates.”

Richardson earned recognition as a strong defensive guard, making the All-Defensive First Team twice in 1980 and 1981. He also led the league in steals three times and topped the assists leaderboard in 1980. After a challenging period during which he sought drug rehabilitation, he was named the NBA Comeback Player of the Year in 1985, having averaged 20.1 points while starting all 82 games that season.

Despite his early success, including three All-Star selections in his first four seasons, Richardson was traded to the Warriors as part of the Bernard King deal. Just months later, he found a rhythm with the Nets.

However, in February 1986, Richardson was permanently banned from the NBA after violating its drug policy multiple times, leading him to play overseas until his career concluded in 2002. Although he had the opportunity to return to the NBA in 1988, he opted to stay abroad, expressing frustration over what he perceived as a double standard regarding his lifetime ban compared to others in the league.

Richardson’s later years were marked by controversy, including reports of homophobic and anti-Semitic comments. However, former NBA Commissioner David Stern, who is Jewish, did not regard Richardson as an anti-Semite, though he did not defend the reported remarks about the LGBTQ+ community.