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The Tale of Michael Ray Richardson's Rise and Fall with the Nets
Back in 1978, the New York Knicks took a risk by picking Michael Ray Richardson out of the University of Montana with the fourth overall pick, two selections ahead of the legendary Larry Bird. This pick came as a surprise since Richardson wasn't widely recognized, but scouts were optimistic about his potential impact in the NBA.
After a slow rookie year in the 1978/79 season, Richardson broke out as a well-rounded star in his second year. He was scoring 15.3 points, dishing 10.1 assists, and getting 3.2 steals per game.
Leading the league in assists and steals showcased that Richardson was indeed the right choice. Later, he transitioned to the Golden State Warriors before making a move to the New Jersey Nets in 1983.
“Micheal Ray was a guy who played just like I played,” Magic Johnson said. "Every time I saw him, he went right at me... and Micheal would always talk trash, too, the whole game.“
A career marred by controversies
Despite his budding career, Richardson dealt with plenty of issues, with the most prominent one being his struggles with illegal substances. This led the Nets to waive him in December 1983, only to bring him back a few months later after his rehabilitation process.
Richardson then helped the Nets pull off a shocking upset of the defending champions Philadelphia 76ers led by Julius “Dr. J” Erving. At that point, Richardson was a feel-good story as he was proving everyone wrong.
Regrettably, in 1985, Richardson hit a rough patch, leading to a lifetime ban by NBA commissioner David Stern for three violations of the league’s drug policy. Despite earning the chance to return two years later, he chose to pursue his career in Europe.
Richardson remains a big What If story
If Richardson had not been banned and he had gotten clean, he would’ve continued to be a valuable player in the NBA. He was one of the most versatile players in the league, capable of playing point guard up to small forward. However, the reality was he kept facing issues with substances.
Thankfully, Richardson has learned a big lesson from his time in the NBA. Instead of harboring any ill feelings towards Stern, he saw it as a wake-up call that motivated him to get his life back on track afterward.
“David Stern didn't really kick me out. If I didn't do what I did, I'd have kept playing in the NBA. I was only out of the league because of myself. But sometimes, something drastic happens, like what David Stern did, and it wakes you up,” Richardson said to ESPN.
