Jason Richardson is a retired professional basketball player from the United States who spent 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
After playing college basketball at Michigan State University, Richardson was selected by the Golden State Warriors as the fifth overall choice in the 2001 NBA draft.
Today, we have compiled information on Jason Richardson, his basketball career, net worth, family, and other topics.
Also, you will get to know why Jason is synonymous with the word ”dunk”.
First, look at some quick information on the former NBA player.
Quick Facts
Full Name | Jason Anthoney Richardson |
Birth Date | January 20, 1981 |
Birth Place | Saginaw, Michigan |
Nick Name | J- Rich |
Religion | Christianity |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Black |
High School | Arthur Hill High School |
College | Michigan State University |
Playing Career | 2001 – 2015 |
Zodiac | Aquarius |
Chinese Zodiac | Rooster |
Father’s Name | Elaine Richardson-Cook |
Mother’s Name | Not available |
Siblings |
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Age | 41 years old |
Height | 6 feet 6 inch |
Weight | 102 kg |
NBA Debut | 2001 |
Shoots | Right |
Tattoos | Yes |
Food Habits | Non-vegetarian |
NBA Draft | 2001, Pick: 5th overall, Round: 1 (Selected by the Golden State Warriors) |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Black |
Career Highlights and Awards |
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Build | Athletic |
Children |
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Wife | Jackie Paul |
Jersey Number | 23 |
Position | Shooting guard / Small forward |
Profession | Basketball player |
League | NBA |
Net Worth | $45 Million |
Salary | Under review |
Social Media | |
Merch | NBA Basketball Card |
Last Update | June 2022 |
Jason Richardson: Early Life & Family
The NBA player Jason Richardson was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on January 20, 1981. The player’s father’s name is Elaine Richardson-Cook.
Unfortunately, his mother’s name is unknown. However, it is known that he has always admired his mother and uncle in his life.
The player had a big family. He had two sisters, namely, Tiffany Richardson and Trameka Richardson. Likewise, he also had three brothers, Duane Richardson, Damond Richardson, and Terrene Richardson.
For his education, the player attended Arthur Hill High School. Later, he joined Michigan State University and was enrolled in the child psychology degree program.
J-Rich enjoyed playing hockey in high school as well. As his height increased, he realized that he could incorporate basketball into his life.
Jason Richardson: Professional Career
The Warriors selected Michigan State’s Jason Richardson with the fifth overall pick.
The player took part in the Rookie Challenge as a rookie in 2002 and again as a sophomore in 2003. His teams won both years, and as a rookie, he was named Rookie Challenge MVP.
The player was then traded to the Charlotte Bobcats in June 2007, along with the draft rights.
Jason was traded to the Phoenix Suns in December 2008, along with Jadley and a 2010 second-round pick for Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, and Sean Singletary.
He had a career-high 31 points in his debut game.
Similarly, Jason was traded to the Orlando Magic for a four-year, $25 million in 2011.
Following that, Richardson was moved to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a four-team transaction that also sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers.
He had to miss an entire season in 2013 after he had surgery on his left knee.
Jason Richardson: Retirement
Jason signed with the Atlanta Hawks on August 18, 2015. However, Richardson began having discomfort in his right knee less than a month later, and an MRI indicated bone spurs.
On September 23, 2015, the player announced his retirement from the NBA, claiming his worry that continuing to play might hinder his ability to walk for the rest of his life.
Favorite Basketball Player
From the ’80s and ’90s, Jason’s favorite basketball player was Dominique Wilkins, aka ”The Human Highlight Film.”
Wilkins is a retired professional basketball player who was a nine-time NBA All-Star and an acrobatic slam dunker.
Likewise, Jason Richardson is also fond of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
For years, the player thought that he had Kobe figured out; however, Kobe just kept adding things to his game you couldn’t prevent.
Jason says that Kobe was fun to compete with as he always wanted to win. Moreover, the player made the tricky shots and always showed up for the game.
Jason Richardson: Apology
The player rose to prominence with the Golden State Warriors because of his great scoring, ability to dunk, devotion to the team and fans, and ethical maturity.
Richardson, the Warriors’ long-time captain, prepared a letter of apology to Warrior supporters in 2005 after the club failed to make the playoffs for the 12th consecutive season.
The letter was published in various Bay Area newspapers.
Jason Richardson: Body Measurements
The retired NBA player Richardson was born in the year 1981. He is now [calculate_yearsdatestring=”01/20/1981″] years old.
When it comes to Jason’s physical appearance, the basketball player has a solid and well-maintained figure that makes him look quite attractive.
Richardson also works out daily to maintain his athletic lifestyle.
Furthermore, the American player is 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs roughly 102 kg. Jason’s other bodily measurements, however, are still unknown.
Similarly, the player has tattoos all over his body. Richardson has black hair and black eyes. He is also of black ethnicity.
Tattoos
The former player has many tattoos carved on his body. His upper back is tattooed with the words “THA FACTOR.” Likewise, another tattoo can also be found on the back of his neck.
The tattoo on his back commemorates his nickname, “Tha Factor,” which was given to him by his teammates during his tenure with the Golden State Warriors.
Similarly, the player has a tattoo of a muscular guy with the sun beaming behind his head, surrounded by clouds, on his right shoulder. He has also tattooed the phrase “e.l.i.t.e.”
The inscription tattooed on his shoulder means “Enjoy Life Until the End.” He, his brother, and his cousin all have identical muscular guy tattoos.
Further, Jason’s left shoulder and upper arm are covered with a tattoo depicting the Grim Reaper surrounded by flames and smoke.
The player has a symbol with the years “1924-2009” tattooed on his right shoulder. He also has a portrait tattoo of his daughter, Jaela Richardson, on the inside of his right forearm.
Moreover, Jason’s chest is also tattooed with the names of his family members.
Jason Richardson: Wife & Kids
The former NBA player is happily married to Jackie Paul.
The couple has been married for 10 years now and has 3 lovely kids together. They have two sons named Jason II, Jackson Richardson, and a daughter, Jaela Richardson.
On the occasion of their 10th marriage anniversary, Jason posted a picture with his wife on Instagram and captioned it as:
“Here’s to all the wonderful years you have given me! The unconditional love, the encouraging support, the amazing memories, and the joy you bring into my life daily. Happy 10th Anniversary @jackiempaul! May our love continue to grow until the end of time.”
Jason Richardson: Awards
- 2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
- 2002 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- 2000 NCAA champion
- 2001 Consensus second-team All-American
- 2001 First-team All-Big Ten
- 1999 Second-team Parade All-American
- 1999 McDonald’s All-American
- Mr. Basketball of Michigan
Jason Richardson: Trivia
Even after departing from the Golden State, Richardson remained one of the most popular Warriors players among fans due to his electrifying style of play.
Likewise, he is also widely known for his ability to hit three-pointers and the length and tenacity of his stint with the team.
In a home win over the Phoenix Suns, Richardson established the Warrior franchise mark for three-pointers made in a game without missing.
The player is also well recognized for his high-flying talents, and he is primarily considered to be one of the top dunkers of the 2000s.
Moreover, Jason won the NBA Slam Dunk Competition in 2002 and 2003. The player also competed in the 2004 contest. However, he was defeated in the finals by Fred Jones.
Jason Richardson: Hobbies
Apart from playing basketball, the player keeps his interest in other sports. Jason occasionally goes to play golf with his friends and family.
Likewise, he also shares pictures of playing golf on his Instagram account.
Similarly, Jason also goes cycling, swimming, and snowboarding. No wonder his body is well-maintained and muscular!
Moreover, judging from his Instagram pictures, we can say that the player is also fond of traveling. He has visited many famous places in the world with his family, including The Great Wall of China.
Jason Richardson: Net Worth
The player had total career earnings of $135,753,173 from his professional NBA career. His net worth is approximately $45 million.
Apart from playing basketball, the player also makes money from endorsements and sponsorships.
For instance, the player had previously signed an endorsement deal with PEAK’s Chinese sports brand.
Cannabis Industry
Over the years, Jason had been looking for an opportunity to invest in the emerging cannabis industry. Although the player is not a consumer, he understood the medical benefits of cannabis and its significant growth potential.
In 2020, he met Goldenseed, a cannabis cultivator and retail brand based in Santa Cruz, California, via a mutual friend.
Jason was impressed not only by the quality of the brand and genetics but also by the business acumen of its leaders.
Goldenseed is the first cannabis cultivator in the US qualified by the SEC to sell stock to the general public.
The player, along with over 5,000 other people from all 50 states and over 30 countries worldwide, has invested in the Goldenseed.
Social Media Presence
- Instagram: 46.5k followers
- Twitter: 204.4k followers
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Phoenix Suns acquire Jason Richardson?
The Suns dealt for Richardson because they needed another backcourt scorer to relieve pressure on Steve Nash.
What do Jason’s Chinese tattoos mean?
Jason has three Chinese symbols tattooed on his left forearm. Those tattoos on his forearm stand for “Father, Strength, and Talent.” However, over time, the lettering has faded.
Did Jason Richardson serve as a coach later?
The two-time dunk champion coached somewhat 200 young students in India and was way impressed by their disciplined behavior.
He went to Ramjas School in New Delhi and MICA in Ahmedabad.