Micheal Ray Richardson, the NBA All-Star guard who once lit up the league with his incredible skills before being derailed by a stint in the shadows of addiction, has passed away at 70. His passing was confirmed to the Associated Press by his attorney and close friend John Zelbst, who described it as "heartbreaking."
A trailblazer on the court, Richardson played for several teams including the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and New Jersey Nets, earning four NBA All-Star selections along the way. He left an indelible mark on the league with his impressive stats, leading the league in steals three times and averaging 15.3 points per game during the 1979-80 season.
However, it was not just Richardson's impressive play that made him a standout, but also his resilience in the face of adversity. In 1986, he was banned from the NBA after violating the league's drug policy for cocaine use. Yet, instead of letting addiction define him, Richardson used it as an opportunity to turn his life around and rediscover purpose.
After his ban, Richardson went on to coach teams in the Continental Basketball Association and NBL Canada, winning five championships along the way. His most recent stint was with the London Lightning, where he led the team to two NBL Canada championships.
Richardson's attorney, Zelbst, described him as "one of the best people I knew," adding that anybody who met him would be left in awe by his charisma and infectious personality. Despite his struggles, Richardson found redemption through coaching and mentoring young men in his community, where he spent much of his later years.
As Zelbst aptly put it, "It was a life of redemption and winning." A fitting epitaph for a man who defied the odds to achieve greatness on and off the court.
A trailblazer on the court, Richardson played for several teams including the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and New Jersey Nets, earning four NBA All-Star selections along the way. He left an indelible mark on the league with his impressive stats, leading the league in steals three times and averaging 15.3 points per game during the 1979-80 season.
However, it was not just Richardson's impressive play that made him a standout, but also his resilience in the face of adversity. In 1986, he was banned from the NBA after violating the league's drug policy for cocaine use. Yet, instead of letting addiction define him, Richardson used it as an opportunity to turn his life around and rediscover purpose.
After his ban, Richardson went on to coach teams in the Continental Basketball Association and NBL Canada, winning five championships along the way. His most recent stint was with the London Lightning, where he led the team to two NBL Canada championships.
Richardson's attorney, Zelbst, described him as "one of the best people I knew," adding that anybody who met him would be left in awe by his charisma and infectious personality. Despite his struggles, Richardson found redemption through coaching and mentoring young men in his community, where he spent much of his later years.
As Zelbst aptly put it, "It was a life of redemption and winning." A fitting epitaph for a man who defied the odds to achieve greatness on and off the court.
sad to hear about Micheal Ray Richardson's passing... still can't believe he went from being one of the greatest in the game to struggling with addiction. but what really gets me is how he bounced back, like a phoenix rising from the ashes 
. coaching and mentoring young guys must've been his redemption. feels like we're losing too many sports legends these days... all those stories about their struggles, only to see them find a new purpose later in life 
. still gives me chills thinking about his stats though - 15.3 points per game? 
that's insane!
I always admired his determination & resilience in the face of addiction it's truly inspiring how he turned his life around & went on to do so much good coaching & mentoring young guys 
I mean, 5 championships is no joke! his legacy will live on & hopefully inspire others who may be going through tough times 
RIP Micheal Ray Richardson 
Oh man, this is so sad 
His legacy lives on though, like, totally 
As a huge fan of his (you know who 
), it's amazing to see how he overcame adversity and turned his life around 
He was always more than just an awesome player, he was a role model 
for those struggling with addiction. I mean, who else can say they went from being in the shadows to coaching teams and winning championships? 
John Zelbst said it best, "It was a life of redemption and winning." 
. RIP Michael Ray Richardson 
my heart just dropped... 70 years young, what a legacy 
- from dominating the court to overcoming addiction and finding new purpose as a coach 
. I'm so grateful for his life and all he accomplished on & off the court 
! but u know what's even crazier? he came back from addiction & turned his life around 
?! richrdsn was all about reppin his community & mentoring the youth 
. he may be gone but his legacy lives on thru the ppl he touched 
. rest in peace, michel ray 
just heard about Michael Ray Richardson passing away at 70 
I remember watching him play back in the day and being amazed by his skills on the court