4-time NBA All-Star Michael Ray Richardson, who was banned from the league for drug use, died Tuesday in Lawton, Oklahoma, on the age of 70 shortly after getting identified with prostate most cancers, his lawyer and pal John Zelbst informed Andscape.
“The basketball world and anybody Michael got here in touch with misplaced an incredible sportsman,” Zelbst mentioned. “He lived life to the fullest. He overcame essentially the most unbelievable odds to perform what he did in life. He serves for example on the right way to redeem your self and make one thing of your self. I feel he’s the best NBA participant that has by no means been inducted into the Corridor of Fame. Unimaginable participant — participant, individual and household man.”
The Denver native starred on the College of Montana earlier than being chosen by the New York Knicks with the fourth total decide within the 1978 NBA draft. “Sugar,” as he was nicknamed, had an eight-year NBA profession with the Knicks, Golden State Warriors and New Jersey Nets, incomes 4 All-Star choices whereas main the NBA in steals thrice. The 1985 NBA Comeback Participant of the Yr additionally averaged a career-high 20.1 factors, 8.2 assists, 5.6 rebounds and a league-best 3.0 steals per sport for the Nets throughout the 1984-85 season.
“He had all of it as a participant, with no weaknesses in his sport,” former Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas, a Naismith Basketball Corridor of Famer, informed Andscape in June. “He’s the participant who gave me essentially the most issues taking part in in opposition to him. He was taller, simply as quick and will shoot from 3 and midrange. His post-up sport was elite. Offensively, he had all of it.”
“Again when he performed within the NBA, the most effective guards had been Magic [Johnson] after which Sugar,” former NBA guard Quinn Buckner mentioned.
Richardson, nevertheless, was banned from the NBA in 1986 for violating the league’s drug coverage for a 3rd time. The 2-time NBA all-defensive first-team choice had substance abuse issues stemming from cocaine use. After being banned from the NBA, he had a brief stint within the Continental Basketball Affiliation earlier than starring professionally primarily in Italy and France. Richardson retired from skilled basketball in 2002 after taking part in for AC Golfe-Juan-Vallauris in France.
“My darkest day was when the man [from the NBA] met me on the airport and informed me I used to be banned from the NBA,” Richardson informed Andscape in Could. “I’ll always remember that day. They waited for me in Newark. As quickly as I bought off the aircraft, I knew what was happening. After that, I went residence and went on a number of days binge. After which after that, I got here to. I bought myself into it. I’ve to get myself out.”
Richardson additionally coached within the Continental Basketball Affiliation for the Albany Patroons and the Oklahoma/Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry. Richardson led the Cavalry to a few consecutive titles — with the CBA in 2008 and 2009 and the Premier Basketball League in 2010. He coached the London Lightning of NBL Canada from 2011 to 2014 and has coached basketball camps for underserved communities every summer time since 2014 with former Nets teammate Otis Birdsong in Florida, New Jersey and California. Richardson additionally beforehand served as an envoy for the Denver Nuggets within the early 2000s.
Richardson retired to Oklahoma along with his spouse, Kimberly, and was a daily at Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder video games in recent times. In 2024, Richardson co-authored a e book about his life referred to as, “Banned: How I Squandered an All-Star NBA Profession Earlier than Discovering My Redemption.” His son, Michael Amir Junior Richardson, performs skilled soccer in Italy for Fiorentina and nationally for Morocco.
Michael Ray Richardson described it as a “blessing” to show 70 years outdated, which was celebrated by members of the family throughout a shock party in Phoenix in April.
“I am nonetheless right here after all of the s— I’ve gone by,” Richardson informed Andscape in Could. “I used to be thanking everybody for coming. It was a shock. All of my pals had been pleased to see me as a result of I have not seen all of my pals in 10 years. It is actually good to see your folks as a result of yearly you lose any person.”