Micheal Ray Richardson

Michael Ray Richardson
	Richardson with Virtus Bologna in 1988
Personal information
Born	April 11, 1955; Lubbock, Texas, U.S.
Died	November 11, 2025 (aged 70); Lawton, Oklahoma, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	189 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school	Manual (Denver, Colorado)
College	Montana (1974–1978)
NBA draft	1978: 1st round, 4th overall pick
Drafted by	New York Knicks
Playing career	1978–2002
Position	Point guard / shooting guard
Number	20
Coaching career	2004–2014
Career history
Playing
1978–1982	New York Knicks
1982–1983	Golden State Warriors
1983–1986	New Jersey Nets
1987	Long Island Knights
1987–1988	Albany Patroons
1988–1991	Virtus Bologna
1991–1992	Split
1992–1994	Livorno
1994–1997	Olympique Antibes
1997–1998	Cholet Basket
1998–1999	Montana Forlì
1999–2000	Livorno
2001	Olympique Antibes
2002	AC Golfe-Juan-Vallauris
Coaching
2004–2007	Albany Patroons
2007–2011	Oklahoma / Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry
2011–2014	London Lightning
Career highlights
	As player 4× NBA All-Star (1980–1982, 1985); 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1980, 1981); NBA Comeback Player of the Year (1985); 3× NBA steals leader (1980, 1983, 1985); NBA assists leader (1980); French Federation Cup winner (1998); FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup champion (1990); FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup Finals top scorer (1990); LNB Pro A champion (1995); 2× Italian Cup winner (1989, 1990); LBA steals leader (1989); 3× LBA All-Star Game (1988–1990); 2× LBA All-Star Game MVP (1988, 1993); 2× ULEB All-Star Game (1993, 1994); USBL All-Star Game (1987); Croatian Cup winner (1992); CBA champion (1988); 3× First-team All-Big Sky (1976–1978); As coach 2× CBA champion (2008, 2009); 2× NBL Canada champion (2012, 2013); 2× NBL Canada Coach of the Year (2012, 2013); PBL Coach of the Year (2010);
Career NBA statistics
Points	8,253 (14.8 ppg)
Rebounds	3,056 (5.5 rpg)
Assists	3,899 (7.0 apg)
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball Reference

Michael Ray Richardson (April 11, 1955 – November 11, 2025), known by the nickname "Sugar", was an American professional basketball player and head coach. He played college basketball for the Montana Grizzlies. The fourth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft, Richardson played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for eight years with the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and New Jersey Nets. He was a four-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection who led the league in steals in three seasons.

In 1986, Richardson was banned for life by NBA commissioner David Stern after testing positive for cocaine for a third time in three seasons. He was the first active NBA player to be banned by the league. He was reinstated by the NBA in 1988, but decided to continue his career in Europe and never played in the NBA again. Richardson later became a head coach in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada).