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NBA CAREER The New York Knicks drafted Richardson with the fourth pick overall in the 1978 NBA Draft, and he was billed as "the next Walt Frazier ." Two picks later, the Boston Celtics drafted Larry Bird . In his second year, he became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both assists (10.1) and steals (3.2), setting Knicks franchise records in both categories. At the beginning of the 1982-83 season, he was sent to the Golden State Warriors as compensation for the New York Knicks signing Bernard King as a free agent. After playing only 33 games for the Warriors, Richardson was traded to the New Jersey Nets . He would be named an all-star as a Net, being a member of the Eastern Conference all-star team that allegedly froze out Michael Jordan . In the 1984 playoffs, Richardson was spectacular, leading the Nets to a shocking upset of the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers . In the fifth and deciding game, Richardson scored 24 points and had six steals. While the Knicks showed mild improvement after trading Richardson, that improvement was short-lived, ending when King was felled by a devastating knee injury midway through the 1984-85 season. In 1986 NBA commissioner David Stern banned Richardson for life after Richardson violated the league's drug policy three times. Richardson's right to play in the NBA was restored in 1988, but Richardson failed two cocaine tests in 1991, though he disputed the results. {Link without Title} He bitterly complained that the suspensions he received from the NBA were unfair given the fact that Chris Mullin was never disciplined by the league for his well-documented Alcohol problem, implying that this "double standard" existed because Richardson is African-American while Mullin is white), and became a frequently cited example of destructive lifestyles in the NBA. He was the subject of the 2000 film '' Whatever Happened To Micheal Ray? '', a look at his troubled life. It was narrated by Chris Rock . IMDB . The quote "the ship be sinking," which he used to describe the Knicks' prospects towards the end of his career. In the 2000s, this phrase became a popular . The full exchange is as follows: REPORTER: What do you think is happening to the team? RICHARDSON: The ship be sinking. REPORTER: How far can it sink? RICHARDSON: Sky's the limit. CBA & US BASKETBALL LEAGUE CAREER Richardson went on to play a few seasons in the Continental Basketball Association and United States Basketball League as well as 14 seasons in Europe. There, he enrolled Virtus Bologna , a prominent European team, in 1988 and remained 3 seasons. With the Virtus Bologna he won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1990 . In Italy, he stayed 2 seasons (1992-1993 and following) in Baker Livorno and 1 (1998-1999) in Montana Forlì . COACHING IN THE CBA On December 14 , 2004 , he was named head coach of the Albany Patroons in the Continental Basketball Association . This is Richardson's second stint with the Patroons; he played for the team during the 1987-88 season, in which Albany won its second CBA championship. 2007 SUSPENSION FOR ANTI-SEMITIC REMARKS 5.01.2007 CBA Ends Richardson Investigation ALBANY, NY (April 20, 2007) – The Continental Basketball Association announced today that they have concluded their investigation into the remarks made by former Albany Patroons Head Coach Micheal Ray Richardson on March 27 to Albany Times-Union reporter Brian Ettkin. Micheal Ray Richardson will receive no sanctions from the CBA and will be eligible to coach in the CBA if and when another CBA franchise wishes to hire him. “Micheal is in the process of making amends for his comments and we wish him luck in his endeavors where ever they may take him in the future,” said CBA Director of Operations Dennis Truax. On March 28 , 2007 , he was suspended for the rest of the CBA championship series for his comments in an interview with the ''Albany Times Union'' newspaper, in which he stated that Jews were "crafty (because) they are hated worldwide." CBA coach Richardson suspended for remarks , March 28, 2007 Specifically, it was reported by the Times Union that before a game against the Yakama Sun Kings, Richardson made anti-Semitic comments to two reporters in his office when discussing the contract general manager Jim Coyne had offered him Monday to coach his team in the CBA and USBL. "I've got big-time lawyers," Richardson said. "I've got big-time Jew lawyers." When told by the reporters that the comment could be offensive to people because it plays to the stereotype that Jews are crafty and shrewd, he responded with:
The paper also reported that he fired expletives at a heckler, using profanity and an anti-gay slur, at Game 1 of the championship series. Time for this coach to sit out , March 28, 2007 Patroons owner Ben Fernandez denounced Richardson's comments. During his suspension, the league is investigating the allegations against Richardson. "We will not tolerate - and the league will not tolerate - bigots," Fernandez said. Richardson will not be allowed to watch the team practice or be present at any of the games {Link without Title} . Some sportswriters have come to Richardson's defense, in the wake of the incident. , 2007 , accessed April 2 , 2007 . NBA commissioner , 2007 , accessed April 3 , 2007 . Zev Chafets, author of ''A Match Made in Heaven: American Jews, Christian Zionists and One Man's Exploration of the Weird and Wonderful Judeo-Evangelical Alliance'', wrote in the '' Los Angeles Times '' that Richardson's comments, while perhaps stereotypical, were not anti-semitic. After discussing Richardson's claim that Jews are "crafty," Chafets stated, What other hurtful things did Richardson supposedly say? That Israel has the best airport security in the world? This is both true and something Israel itself brags about. That Jews are hated and need to protect themselves? That's the founding premise of the Anti-Defamation League itself.... Richardson, who was a popular player in Israel during his NBA exile years, is guilty of nothing more than free speech. Even if his observations were wrong — which they are not — there's nothing at all insulting about them. What is insulting is the notion that you can't speak honestly about Jews without getting into trouble.Chafets, Zev. "He isn't an anti-Semite. He's right." ''Los Angeles Times''. 3 April 2007. {Link without Title} OKLAHOMA CITY CAVALRY On May 24 , 2007 , he was named head coach of the reincarnated Oklahoma City Cavalry of the Continental Basketball Association .Latzke, Jeff. "Richardson to coach Oklahoma City in CBA." ''Houston Chronicle''. 24 May 2007. {Link without Title} NOTES EXTERNAL LINKS
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