Former NBA star Micheal Ray Richardson dies at 70

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Micheal Ray Richardon was a four-time NBA All-Star and the 1985 Comeback Player of the Year. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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Micheal Ray Richardson, the former NBA All-Star who was banned by the league for life in 1986, died Tuesday at the age of 70.

Richardson, who was the fourth overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft out of Montana, was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, his attorney and friend John Zelbst told Andscape.

Richardson, nicknamed "Sugar," played for the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and New Jersey Nets between 1978 and 1986. He was a four-time All-Star and the 1985 NBA Comeback Player of the Year. He also led the NBA in steals three times and averaged 14.8 points, 7.0 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game in his 556-game career.

“I love him. He had it all as a player, with no weaknesses in his game,” basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas told Andscape in June. “He is the player who gave me the most problems playing against him. He was taller, just as fast and could shoot from 3 and midrange. His post-up game was elite. Offensively, he had it all.”

Richardson's time in the NBA was cut short in Feb. 1986 when, after his third violation of the NBA's drug policy, commissioner David Stern made him the first active player to be banned for life by the league. After being reinstated in 1988, Richardson decided against returning to the NBA and remained playing in Europe.


Following his playing days, Richardson coached in the Continental Basketball Association, the Premiere Basketball League and the National Basketball League of Canada.

"The basketball world and anyone Michael came in contact with lost a great sportsman," Zelbst said. "He lived life to the fullest. He overcame the most incredible odds to accomplish what he did in life. He serves as an example on how to redeem yourself and make something of yourself. I think he is the greatest NBA player that has never been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Incredible player — player, person and family man."

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