Micheal Ray Richardson was an American professional basketball player and head coach. He was 70 years old. He was chosen four times for the NBA All-Star team and was the league leader in steals for three seasons.
He played college basketball with the Montana Grizzlies and was picked fourth overall in the 1978 NBA Draft.
Early Life & Cause Of Death
His real name was Micheal Ray Richardson. He was born on 11 April 1955 in Lubbock, Texas, United States. He finished high school at Manual High in Denver in 1974.
He was part of the 1972 state championship team and didn’t join the varsity lineup until his senior year, averaging 10 points per game. He played college basketball at the University of Montana.
He was recruited by Hall of Fame coach Jud Heathcote after his friend David Berry from Denver visited the school. He passed away in Lawton on November 11, 2025, at age 70, after fighting prostate cancer.
Wife, Kids & Parents
According to the reports, he was married. His wife’s name was Kimberly Richardson. He had a son named Amir Richardson, who is a professional football player. He had 11 grandchildren.
He was born to his African-American parents. His father’s name was Mr. Billy Jack Richardson, and his mother’s name was Mrs. Luddie Hicks. His siblings’ information is not updated yet.
Net Worth, Ethnicity & Religion
According to the reports, his net worth was approximately $0.7 million from all of his income sources as of 2025(source). He had an African-American Ethnicity. His religious faith is not updated yet.
Height, Weight & Player Profile
As per the reports, his listed height was 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), and his listed weight was approximately 189 lb (86 kg). He had dark brown hair, and his eyes were also dark brown.
Micheal Ray Richardson Career Details
He played college basketball for the Montana Grizzlies and was the fourth overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. He spent eight seasons in the NBA with the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and New Jersey Nets.
He was a four-time All-Star and led the league in steals three times. At the start of the 1982–83 season, on October 22, 1982, he was traded to the Golden State Warriors, along with a fifth-round draft pick, in exchange for Bernard King.
In his NBA career of 556 games, he averaged 14.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. In 18 playoff games, he averaged 15.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.8 steals.
On February 25, 1986, he was permanently suspended from the NBA after his third drug-related offense in three seasons, becoming the first active player to face such a ban. He was later allowed to return to the league in 1988.
He won the FIBA Cup Winners’ Cup with Virtus Bologna in the 1989–90 season and later earned the French LNB Pro A title with Olympique Antibes in 1995.
Coaching Career
On December 14, 2004, he became the head coach of the Albany Patroons in the CBA. On March 28, 2007, he was suspended for the rest of the CBA championship series after making remarks during an interview with the Albany Times Union.
On May 24, 2007, he became the head coach of the new Oklahoma Cavalry in the CBA. He was dismissed from the team on December 16, 2007, after defending his players.
On August 17, 2011, he became the first head coach of the London Lightning in NBL Canada. He left the team after the 2013–14 season to find coaching jobs closer to home.
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