By Paul M. Banks
The Golden St. Warriors drafted Jason Richardson out of Michigan State University in 2001 with the 5th overall pick. At Michigan State he and fellow current NBA players Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell, and Morris Peterson (and current Melbourne Tiger and NBL first-teamer Dave Thomas) won an NCAA National Championship. Although Richardson struggled as a freshman on that team, playing just a few minutes per game as the 8th or 9th guy in the rotation. Today, as a member of the Phoenix Suns, he is the only member of that team to really have a special NBA career.
He made HUGE strides his sophomore year at Michigan St. and jumped to the league. Also jumping that year was Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph, a freshman, one and done guy. Randolph’s pro career has been even more meaningful than J Rich’s. But remember we’re talking about the 2000 Spartans here, not the ’01 group.
Richardson, a 6’6″, 225 lb. shooting guard/small forward for the Phoenix Suns, earned the NBA Rookie Challenge MVP and All-Rookie Team First Team honors his debut season in the league.
He is regarded as one of the NBA’s most demonstrative dunkers, winning the NBA Slam Dunk crown in 2002 and 2003, joining Michael Jordan and Nate Robinson as the competition’s only back-to-back champions. He’s also scored 20 or more in six of his last 8 games.
This year, he’s really asserting himself even more, as he’s shooting a career high 47% from the floor. Of course, he’s also been consistent in this regard his entire career shooting over 40% in every season of his career, and 44+% in four of the last five.
And here he is in his own words….up close and personal thanks to my Flip Share video- enjoy!
By the way, you’ve heard me rave about the Phoenix Suns Dance Team…here they are in all their glory