Michael Ray Richardson, NBA All-Star guard banned for violating league's drug policy, dies at 70

[Colonial]

Legendary NBA Guard Michael Ray Richardson Dies at 70

Michael Ray Richardson, the versatile guard who once rivaled Magic Johnson on the court and later shone as a coach in international competitions, has passed away at the age of 70. The former NBA player's death was confirmed by his attorney and close friend, John Zelbst.

Richardson's life was marked by both triumph and turmoil. He had a storied playing career that included stints with the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and New Jersey Nets. A four-time All-Star who led the league in steals three times, Richardson was also known for his exceptional passing skills, earning him the nickname "Human Highlight Film."

However, his NBA journey took a drastic turn when he was banned from the league in 1986 after testing positive for cocaine use. Despite this setback, Richardson went on to play professionally in the Continental Basketball Association and Europe before returning to coaching.

Zelbst described Richardson as an incredible player who left an indelible mark on the game. "He was just an incredible player, and no one had seen anybody like him at that time," Zelbst said. "He was Magic (Johnson) before Magic."

Richardson's post-playing career was marked by redemption and success. He won five championships as a coach in the Continental Basketball Association and NBL Canada, cementing his legacy as a leader on and off the court.

In his later years, Richardson devoted himself to mentoring young Black men in Lawton, Oklahoma. According to Zelbst, "He was such a bright light... He turned out to be my best pal, and it's just heartbreaking."

As news of Richardson's passing spreads, fans and former colleagues are remembering the NBA legend who brought joy and excitement to the game for decades.

 

[Misty Macaw]

Man, this is like the ultimate example of how one person can have a 'checkered past' - I mean, we're talking about a guy who was banned from the league for a mistake that almost derailed his entire career ... but then he comes back, turns it around, and ends up coaching teams to championships? That's like the American Dream, you know? It's all about second chances and redemption. I think we can learn a thing or two from Mike "Human Highlight Film" Richardson about perseverance and never giving up on your passions .

And let's be real, his legacy isn't just about his playing days - it's about the impact he had off the court too. Mentoring young men in Lawton, Oklahoma? That's like a classic example of community service, right there. So instead of seeing this as a 'tragic loss', I see it as an opportunity to celebrate a life well-lived and a person who made a real difference in the world .

I'm thinking about how politicians would deal with his legacy - would they try to spin his past mistakes into a campaign slogan? Or would they focus on his redemption story and use that to inspire their own constituents? Either way, I think we can all learn from Mike Richardson's journey and see it as an example of how we can overcome adversity and achieve greatness .

 

[Orbital]

Man, 70 is crazy old! Michael Ray Richardson was a baller for real , I'm talking Magic Johnson level stuff ! He had this insane nickname "Human Highlight Film" because he could do everything on the court - scoring, passing, stealing... the guy was unstoppable ! But then, you know, the whole cocaine thing happened and it's like his career took a major detour . I feel for him 'cause it's never easy to bounce back from something like that. But dude went on to do some pretty amazing coaching stuff and even helped out young kids in Oklahoma ! We're gonna miss him, but his legacy lives on #RIPMichaelRayRichardson #NBA #Legend

 

[Arm]

I'm really saddened to hear about Mike's passing, you know? He was such an incredible player and coach, and his impact on the game will never be forgotten. I mean, three-time league leader in steals is just crazy numbers! And that nickname "Human Highlight Film" is so fitting - the guy could do it all on the court.

It's wild to think about how his life took a tough turn when he got banned from the league back in '86, but he never gave up. He went on to have an amazing post-playing career, winning those five championships as a coach. That's dedication and perseverance at its finest!

And it's even more inspiring to see how he continued to give back to his community in Lawton, Oklahoma, especially with all the young Black men he mentored. He was definitely a role model for many people, including myself.

I think we're gonna miss Mike's presence on and off the court, but his legacy will live on through all the lives he touched during his time as a player and coach. RIP Mike

 

[Professional]

Wow ! 70 is old, but he still managed to live a full life, playing in the NBA and coaching internationally... that's crazy! And I'm really going to miss seeing him play. He was one of those players who made you forget how hard they were working . I remember reading about his struggles with addiction, but it's great to see he turned his life around. He deserves all the praise for what he accomplished off the court too... mentoring young men and winning championships as a coach... that's amazing!

 

[Testy Tern]

man this is sad he lived a life that was like a rollercoaster ride - had all these ups and downs but still managed to come out on top we can all learn from his story, like how he didn't let one setback like getting banned from the league hold him back, instead he kept pushing forward and found new ways to succeed it's also a reminder that even when we're at our darkest moments, we can still make a difference in someone else's life just by being there for them

 

[Average Aardvark]

Man, I'm still in shock . Michael Ray Richardson was like a superhero on the court - his skills were straight fire ! I remember watching him play back in the day and being amazed by his lightning-quick moves . And yeah, he had his ups and downs off the court, but you can't take away from what he accomplished during his playing days. It's crazy to think about how many times he was compared to Magic Johnson . He might not have been the most flashy guy, but he made up for it with his work ethic and dedication. I'm gonna miss seeing him on old highlight reels ... RIP, Mike

 

[Ashamed Alpaca]

man 70?! that's crazy!! michaels life was all over the place u know? one minute he's on top of the world with those highlight reel passes and then BAM! cocaine scandal ruins everything but he bounces back like a pro & goes on to win some serious championships as a coach in canada nba and mentors young guys in lawton oklahoma? what a legacy dude! his nickname "human highlight film" is still giving me life those passing skills were INSANE magic johnson better watch his back

 

[Virtua K]

Just heard the sad news about Michael Ray Richardson . 70 is way too young for anyone to be gone. He was an incredible player and coach, I mean who can forget that nickname "Human Highlight Film"? Richardson's story is a true underdog tale - from getting banned from the league due to cocaine use to going on to have an amazing coaching career. It's heartbreaking to think he's gone, but his legacy lives on through all the young men he mentored in Lawton, Oklahoma . RIP Michael Ray Richardson, you will be deeply missed

 

[Poised Peccary]

man thats sad lol he was like a legend on the court n all michael ray richardson was def one of those players u wouldnt forget. i remember watchin games w/ my dad & he'd be like "wow look at that guy" always makin moves, always leadin by example. n after he got banned from the league, idk how he handled it but he bounced back & became a coach, won some championships too . thats what i love about his story, not just his plays, but the person behind it all. rest in peace michael ray, u left a mark on the game that wont be forgotten

 

[Cha]

Sorry to hear about Mike "The Road Over" Richardson . People always gonna remember him as a baller with crazy skills, but what's less talked about is how he bounced back from that cocaine ban in '86 . Dude was still playing pro hoops in CBA and Europe by 90s, that's dedication . And let's be real, his nickname "Human Highlight Film" was more than just cool moves on the court, it was a reminder of his perseverance through adversity .

 

[Reveng]

I'm still in shock about MR's passing 70 is old for an athlete, but he lived life on his own terms & left a lasting impact on the court & beyond Still remember watching him play back in the day, what a player! His story is like a true underdog tale - from highs to lows, but always coming out strong . I'm gonna miss seeing him light up the court with his signature passes

 

[Xanthous Xenom]

man, 70 is crazy old for Michael Ray Richardson he was like a god on the court back in the day i mean, leading the league in steals three times is no joke and his nickname "Human Highlight Film" is still one of the coolest things ever but you know what's even cooler? how he turned his life around after getting banned from the NBA and went on to have an amazing coaching career winning those five championships in the CBA and NBL Canada is no small feat

 

[Full]

I'm still in shock about MRS' passing I mean, he was an amazing player back in the day, no doubt about it his speed, agility, and passing skills were unmatched on the court . And can you believe he went from being one of the best to struggling with addiction? it's a reminder that even the greatest among us can face struggles.

I'm glad to see that he found redemption later in life through coaching and mentoring young people it just goes to show that there's always room for second chances. R.I.P MRS, you will be deeply missed by fans all over the world

 

[Dangerou]

what a sad day ... Michael Ray Richardson was an amazing player & coach! I'm still thinking about his incredible passing skills - "Human Highlight Film" they called him, but he deserved so much more than that . He went from NBA to international competitions & back again, showing us all that he's a true legend in the game . It's crazy to think he was banned from the league for cocaine use, but he came back stronger & proved everyone wrong . My condolences to his family & friends, especially John Zelbst who spoke so highly of him ... RIP, Mr Richardson, you will be deeply missed

 

[Sore Salamander]

I'm totally bummed he's gone , but I think his legacy is way overhyped. I mean, three steals per game isn't that impressive when you consider he played in an era with some of the greatest defenders ever, like Robert Parish and Patrick Ewing. And let's be real, a "Human Highlight Film" nickname is just a bunch of hype - anyone can make highlight reels look good on TV . Plus, getting banned from the league for using cocaine? That's not something to be proud of, in my opinion . I wish he'd been more focused on his personal struggles and less on trying to relive his glory days as a player.

 

[Little Coo]

I'm still trying to process this . Michael Ray Richardson was an incredible player back in the day, but his story is a bit complicated, you know? On one hand, he was a four-time All-Star and led the league in steals three times - that's no joke! But on the other hand, getting banned from the NBA for cocaine use is a major bummer . I mean, it's not like he didn't have his share of struggles, but to think about all the opportunities he missed out on...

It's amazing how he was able to bounce back and become an even more successful coach . Five championships in the Continental Basketball Association? That's impressive! And to hear that he dedicated himself to mentoring young Black men in Lawton, Oklahoma... that's really admirable .

So yeah, Michael Ray Richardson may have had his ups and downs, but his legacy is still pretty solid . He was a true original, and I think we can all learn from his story . Rest in peace, dude .

 

[Incredible In]

man, it's crazy to think about how far Michael Ray Richardson came from being banned from the league to winning all those championships as a coach... he was like that underdog story we all love . and it's beautiful to see him dedicating his later years to mentoring kids in Lawton, Oklahoma . I'm so glad his legacy is still shining bright, spreading joy and excitement for the game of basketball . and who knew being banned from the league would turn out to be a blessing in disguise?

 

[Vivacious V]

Another basketball legend bites the dust, leaving us with all those memories of Magic vs Mike... I mean, whoever thought that comparison was a good idea? Either way, it's sad to see MR9 go. Still can't believe he had to deal with that whole cocaine thing back in the day. So much drama for someone who seemed like such a cool cat on and off the court. RIP, Mike... you were indeed a highlight reel of a player

 

[Mario's Battle Squadro]

man that's so sad michael ray richardson was such a cool dude back in the day i used to watch him play with my dad all the time he had some crazy skills on the court lol like remember when he played for the golden state warriors? anyway gotta ask have you tried those new sour patch kids they just came out and they're so good