Rome, Nov. 11 (LaPresse) – Basketball mourns the death of Michael Ray Richardson, four-time NBA All Star who won the hearts of Virtus Bologna fans during his time with the team from 1988 to 1991. The news of his death, reported by the American media, was confirmed by his lawyer and friend John Zelbst. Richardson passed away in Lawton, Oklahoma, after a brief battle with cancer. “The basketball world and everyone Michael met have lost a great athlete,” Zelbst said. “He lived life to the fullest. He overcame incredible adversity to achieve what he did in life. He is an example of how to redeem yourself and make something of yourself. I think he’s the greatest NBA player who was never inducted into the Hall of Fame. An incredible player, a champion, a person, and a family man,” he added. ‘Sugar’—his nickname—was born in Denver and after college basketball joined the New York Knicks, where he remained from 1978 to 1982. After a season with the Golden State Warriors, he joined the New Jersey Nets. Winner of the 1985 NBA Comeback Player of the Year award, he also averaged 20.1 points, 8.2 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.0 steals per game, the highest of his career, for the Nets during the 1984-85 season. In 1986, he was suspended by the NBA for violating the league’s anti-drug policies for the third time. His rebirth came in Europe. From 1988 to 1991, he played in Bologna, then – after a stint with Croatian club Jugoplastika – he joined Libertas Pallacanestro Livorno. He then played for Olympique Antibes in France and returned to Italy, playing for Libertas Forlì and Basket Livorno, before returning to Antibes.
Basketball: farewell to Michael Ray Richardson, former NBA and Virtus star
Rome, Nov. 11 (LaPresse) – Basketball mourns the death of Michael Ray Richardson, four-time NBA All Star who won the hearts of Virtus Bologna fans during his time with the team from 1988 to 1991. The news of his death, reported by the American media, was confirmed by his lawyer and friend John Zelbst. Richardson passed away in Lawton, Oklahoma, after a brief battle with cancer. “The basketball world and everyone Michael met have lost a great athlete,” Zelbst said. “He lived life to the fullest. He overcame incredible adversity to achieve what he did in life. He is an example of how to redeem yourself and make something of yourself. I think he’s the greatest NBA player who was never inducted into the Hall of Fame. An incredible player, a champion, a person, and a family man,” he added. ‘Sugar’—his nickname—was born in Denver and after college basketball joined the New York Knicks, where he remained from 1978 to 1982. After a season with the Golden State Warriors, he joined the New Jersey Nets. Winner of the 1985 NBA Comeback Player of the Year award, he also averaged 20.1 points, 8.2 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.0 steals per game, the highest of his career, for the Nets during the 1984-85 season. In 1986, he was suspended by the NBA for violating the league’s anti-drug policies for the third time. His rebirth came in Europe. From 1988 to 1991, he played in Bologna, then – after a stint with Croatian club Jugoplastika – he joined Libertas Pallacanestro Livorno. He then played for Olympique Antibes in France and returned to Italy, playing for Libertas Forlì and Basket Livorno, before returning to Antibes.
