Four-time NBA All-Star Michael Ray Richardson, who was suspended by the league for drug use, died Tuesday at age 70 in Lawton, Oklahoma, shortly after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, his attorney and friend John Zelbst told Andscape and ESPN’s Marc J. Spears.
“The basketball community and anyone Michael came into contact with has lost a great athlete,” Zelbst said. “He lived a full life. He overcame the most incredible odds to adapt to what he did in life.
“He’s an example of how to redeem yourself and make something of yourself. I think he’s the greatest NBA player to never be in the Hall of Fame. Incredible player – player, person and family man.”
Michael Ray Richardson had an eight-year NBA career
Michael “Sugar” Richardson attended the University of Montana before being selected by the New York Knicks with the fourth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft.
Richardson spent an eight-year NBA career with the Knicks, Golden State Warriors and New Jersey Nets, making four All-Star appearances while leading the league in steals three times.
— New York Knicks (@nyknicks) November 11, 2025
In 556 career NBA regular season games (358 starts), he averaged 33.4 minutes per game, 14.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.6 steals, shooting 45.7% from the field, 22% from three-point range, and 69% from the free throw line.
According to “Basketball Reference”, Richardson averaged a career-high 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists and a league-high 3.0 steals per game for the Nets in the 1984-85 season.
He was also named the 1985 NBA Comeback Player of the Year.
Richardson suspended three games by NBA for violating drug policy
In 1986, Richardson was banned for life by NBA commissioner David Stern for his third violation of the league’s anti-drug policy. Spears said the Denver native had substance abuse issues “due to his cocaine use.”
He is the first active NBA player to be suspended by the league.
“My darkest day was when that guy [from the NBA] “He met me at the airport and told me I was banned from the NBA,” Richardson told Andscape in May.
“I’ll never forget that day. They were waiting for me in Newark. I got off the plane and I knew what was going on. After that, I went home and continued partying for a few days. And then, after that, I woke up. I let myself get into it. I had to get myself out of it.”
Richardson continues his career in Europe
After being suspended from the NBA, Richardson briefly played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) before playing primarily in Italy and France.
Richardson won the LNB Pro A championship with Olympique Antibes in 1995 and retired in 2002 after playing for French team AC Golfe-Juan-Vallauris.
After his playing career, Richardson coached the Albany Patrons and Oklahoma/Fort Lawton Steele Cavaliers in the CBA.
He led the Cavaliers to three consecutive CBA championships in 2008 and 2009 and the Premier Basketball League (PBL) championship in 2010.
