Jason Richardson, an offensive demon who has had a stellar career in the National Basketball Association (NBA), has decided to hang up his sneakers.
Among his offensive repertoire include that of being a back-to-back NBA Slam Dunk champion all the way back in 2002–03.
Richardson entered the NBA way back in 2001 as the fifth overall pick of the Golden State Warriors. He steadily made his mark for the Warriors and was responsible for helping the team reach the 2006 NBA playoffs. It was the first time the team reached the postseason after 13 years.
His mark, however, came when he ruled the ring in the 2002 and 2003 Slam Dunk competitions. He was also around during the 2004 edition but lost to Fred Jones in the finals.
In all, Richardson showcased his offensive prowess. If not going for the emphatic slams, he could hit from the outside with his long bombs. He was simply someone born to score and such showed with the Warriors and the other teams he played for.
Aside from Golden State where he played his first six seasons, Richardson would also play for the Charlotte Bobcats, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, and the Philadelphia 76ers. He would have played another season with the Atlanta Hawks but opted to retire instead due to knee issues.
Richardson's rise practically stopped when he was with the Sixers. In 2013, he had his knees operated on. Upon his return, his numbers took a severe dip.
The Hawks signed him up just last August for another tenure for the coming 2015–16 NBA season. But when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed bone spurs on his right knee, the 34-year-old swingman opted to quit rather than risk limping for the rest of his life.
Had Richardson played this season, it would have been his 14th year in the NBA. Richardson posted via Instagram his decision to retire.
