Thank You, J-Rich
I joined the BlueManHoop team at the beginning of the magical 2014-15 season and the first piece I wrote was titled “How I Became a Golden State Warriors Fan.”
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In it, I detailed Jason Richardson‘s spinning buzzer beating three-pointer against the Dallas Mavericks in 2006 to steal a road victory. It was at that moment that I knew that the Golden State Warriors were my team.
Less than two years later, I sat in the middle of my hallway by myself, my eyes swelled with tears, and repeatedly asked the night “why?” On June 28th, 2007 the Warriors traded away Richardson to the (then) Charlotte Bobcats.
A #Warriors Legend & All-Time Fan Favorite - Congratulations @jrich23 on your unforgettable career! pic.twitter.com/mvKXgDwi9o
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) September 24, 2015
This is why I’m writing this. We’ve already put up several pieces here at BlueManHoop about J-Rich’s retirement and legacy (here, here, and here), but I needed to say my piece. After all he gave Warriors fans, it’s the least I could do. He deserves it. Jason Richardson was the ultimate Warrior, on and off the court.
Twelve year-old me was confused and hurt. Boy, did it hurt. The trade hurt more than any other professional athlete’s departure from any of my favorite teams–even now, the pain of that night stands alone. My head hurt and my eyes watered and it’s all justifiable. That’s the kind of impact Jason Richardson had on Warriors fans.
On paper, Richardson wasn’t anything particularly spectacular. Compared to his contemporaries, he wasn’t a champion like Kobe Bryant or even an All-Star like Tracy McGrady. So to an outsider, the Bay’s love for J-Rich may seem odd, but for Warriors fans, he holds place in our hearts unlike anyone else.
Every night, J-Rich went out there and tried to put on a show. Whether it was a buzzer beater or a ferocious dunk or going head to head with other stars, Richardson gave everything he had. For years, he was all we had and he produced as well as he could. For that, we thank him.
Jason Richardson was the ultimate Warrior, on and off the court.
Now, Richardson did do some fantastic basketball things. He is immortalized with Michael Jordan and Nate Robinson as the only three to ever win consecutive Slam Dunk Contest titles. He was placed on the 2002 All-Rookie First Team. He was named the 2003 Rookie Challenge MVP. He does hold a spot on some Warriors franchise records. He was a key member of the legendary “We Believe” team that became the first #8 seed to knock off a #1 seed in a 7 game series after defeating the 67 win Dallas Mavericks.
But this is about more than just basketball. My favorite Richardson moment isn’t his buzzer beater or reverse between-the-legs dunk. In fact, it’s not anything he did on the court. After failing to make the playoffs once more, Jason Richardson spent his own money to take out an ad in the newspaper, apologizing to Warriors fans for yet another disappointing season. That’s the kind of man he is. And that’s exactly why Warriors fans will always love him.
I’m proud to say I’m a Jason Richardson fan. He actually spent a larger portion of his 14 year NBA career away from the Bay Area than he did as a member of the Golden State Warriors, but in his 6 years here, he earned himself fans for life. He didn’t win countless awards or shatter records. He only made the playoffs once in the Bay Area and, for the most part, he was a part of mediocre teams. He didn’t make any All-NBA or All-Star teams. But his electrifying play made it worth tuning into Warriors games. His effort gave fans hope that maybe, just maybe the Warriors can actually be something for once.
Jason Richardson is a Warrior for life. He’s just as much a Warrior as the defending champions that will take the court in a little over a month. He’s just as much a Warrior as Hall of Famers Chris Mullin and Nate Thurmond. He’s just as much a Warrior as greats Wilt Chamberlain and Rick Barry.
Though many players have worn #23 for the Golden State Warriors, three stand above the rest (no, not Tim Legler): Mitch Richmond, Draymond Green, and Jason Richardson. Richmond is a Hall of Famer. Green is arguably the second best player on the first championship team in 40 years. And yet, in my mind (and surely, in the mind of many others), the number is Richardson’s.
Through his exciting play, visible love for the game, and professionalism, Jason Richardson captured the hearts and minds of Warriors fans young and old over the course of six years. We watched him become one of the greatest dunkers in league history and then we watched him grow into a balanced basketball player. He inspired a generation of Warriors fans–including myself–and gave Warriors fans something to be happy about.
Thank you for the memories, Jason. Thanks for not giving up on us when everyone else did. Enjoy retirement. A Warriors for life, you’ll always have a home in the Bay Area. Congratulations on a wonderful career and enjoy retirement, J-Rich.