Jason Anthoney Richardson (born January 20, 1981, in
Saginaw, Michigan) is an American professional
basketball player, currently playing shooting guard
for the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats. He previously
played for the Golden State Warriors, from whom he
was traded on June 28, 2007 after six years with the
team.
The Warriors drafted him with the 5th overall pick
in the 2001 NBA Draft out of Michigan State
University. It was while playing with Michigan State
that 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.
Richardson won the NBA Slam Dunk Contests in 2002
and 2003, joining Michael Jordan as the only players
to have won in consecutive years. Also as a
sophomore in the closing seconds of the 2003
rookie-sophomore All-Star game, with the game in
hand, Richardson bounced the ball off Carlos
Boozer's forehead, then shot a 3-pointer before the
clock ran out, the sophomores over the rookies
132-112.
Richardson competed in the 2004 contest as well but
lost to Fred Jones.
The long time captain of the Warriors, Richardson
organized a letter of apology to Warrior fans after
they failed to make the NBA playoffs for the 12th
straight season. It ran in several Bay Area
newspapers. Although no longer playing for Golden
State, he remains one of the most popular players
among Warrior fans, and is known for his electric
style of play and ability to shoot a three-pointer.
Richardson set the Warrior franchise record for
three-pointers in a game (8) in a home win against
the Phoenix Suns.
On March 23, 2006, Richardson rebounded a free throw
shot by the Dallas Mavericks' Jason Terry. He then
ran up court and made a spin-move around Terry and
hit a three-pointer to win the game for the
Warriors.
On June 28, 2007, Richardson, along with the draft
rights to Golden State's 2007 Draft selection of
forward Jermareo Davidson with the 36th pick, were
traded to the Charlotte Bobcats for the draft rights
to the eighth pick Brandan Wright.
On January 9, 2008, Richardson led the Bobcats to a
road win against the Boston Celtics after scoring 34
points. This was only the Celtics' fourth loss of
the season and second loss at home. It was also the
Bobcats' second road win of the season, ending an 11
game road losing streak.
