Jason Anthoney Richardson II Bio
Jason Anthoney Richardson II (born October 16, 2005) is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 6-foot-1 shooting guard was selected with the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after one standout season with the Michigan State Spartans. Richardson arrives in the NBA with impressive credentials, having led Michigan State to a Big Ten conference regular-season championship and an Elite Eight appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament while earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors.
Early Life and Background
Richardson was born in Berkeley, California, and grew up in Denver, Colorado. Before starting his freshman year of high school, his family relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada. Basketball runs deep in the Richardson family. His father, Jason Richardson, was a second-team All-American at Michigan State and a key member of the Spartans’ 2000 national championship team before enjoying a 14-season NBA career. From age four through high school, Jase was coached by his mother, Jackie Paul-Richardson, who played basketball at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
This family legacy provided Richardson with exceptional guidance and development opportunities from an early age. Growing up with the sport woven into his daily life, he developed a strong foundation that would shape his future basketball aspirations.
Path to Basketball
Richardson attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he began to establish himself as a promising prospect. As a sophomore, he averaged 14 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals per game. After missing most of his junior year due to injury, Richardson returned to showcase his skills on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit, finishing as the third-leading scorer at 20.1 points per game with an unprecedented 10-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, making him the most efficient point guard in the circuit and earning first-team Peach Jam Honors.
For his senior season, Richardson transferred to Christopher Columbus High School in Westchester, Florida. He averaged 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists, helping lead Christopher Columbus to their third consecutive FHSAA 7A State Championship and a final four appearance at Chipotle Nationals alongside fellow top prospect Cameron Boozer. Rated as a four-star recruit, Richardson received scholarship offers from several major programs before choosing to continue his family’s legacy at Michigan State, where his father had starred, over Alabama and Cincinnati.
Jason Anthoney Richardson II Career
College Career (2024–2025)
Richardson enrolled at Michigan State University in June 2024 to participate in the Spartans’ summer practices. He made his college basketball debut in Michigan State’s season-opener against Monmouth on November 4, 2024, contributing 10 points, two rebounds, and four assists in an 81–57 victory. Richardson served primarily as a bench player for most of the season before earning his first career start on February 8, 2025, against Oregon.
In that start against the Ducks, Richardson delivered a career-defining performance, scoring a career-high 29 points in a victory that proved to be a turning point in his collegiate career. He maintained his starting role for the remainder of the season and helped lead the Spartans to the Big Ten conference regular-season championship. Richardson continued his strong play into the NCAA Tournament, guiding Michigan State to an Elite Eight appearance. His outstanding freshman season earned him selections to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and All-Big Ten Third Team.
On April 8, 2025, Richardson announced the end of his college career, officially declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft and forgoing his remaining collegiate eligibility.
Orlando Magic (2025–present)
Richardson was selected with the 25th overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2025 NBA Draft, continuing his journey to professional basketball. The selection brought Richardson to a young and rebuilding Magic roster featuring promising young talent. His collegiate success, particularly his ability to score efficiently and make smart decisions with the ball, translated well to the NBA level during summer league play.
Richardson signed his rookie contract and joined the Magic for training camp ahead of the 2025-2026 NBA season. He began his professional career adapting to the increased speed and physicality of the NBA game while working to establish his role within the Magic’s rotation.
Playing Style and Strengths
Richardson is known for his scoring ability and exceptional efficiency, particularly evident during his Nike EYBL career where he posted a remarkable 10-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. His basketball IQ and playmaking skills allow him to run an offense effectively while also contributing as a shooting guard. His collegiate career demonstrated his ability to score in bunches, as shown by his 29-point performance against Oregon, and his capacity to impact games even when not scoring at a high rate through rebounds, assists, and defensive effort.
Notable Events and Milestones
Richardson’s freshman season was filled with significant achievements. His collegiate debut, first career start, and career-high 29-point game all occurred during a single season that also included a Big Ten championship and Elite Eight NCAA Tournament run. Being selected by the Orlando Magic in the 2025 NBA Draft marked the beginning of his professional career, fulfilling a lifelong dream of following in his father’s NBA footsteps.
Jason Anthoney Richardson II Career Highlights
Richardson’s career, though in its early stages, has already featured several notable accomplishments across high school, college, and professional levels.
College Highlights
In his lone season at Michigan State, Richardson appeared in every game for the Spartans, transitioning from a bench role to a starter who helped anchor their Big Ten championship run. His selection to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and All-Big Ten Third Team recognized his immediate impact at the collegiate level. The Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament represented the pinnacle of his college career, with Richardson earning a spot on the 2025 South Regional Team for his performance during the tournament.
Other Achievements
Prior to college, Richardson was selected to participate in the Jordan Brand Classic in 2024, showcasing his talents among the nation’s top high school prospects. His high school career included three consecutive state championships with Christopher Columbus and a final four appearance at Chipotle Nationals.
Jason Anthoney Richardson II Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball excellence runs deeply through the Richardson family bloodline. Jason Anthoney Richardson II is the son of Jason Richardson, who earned second-team All-American honors at Michigan State and was a member of the Spartans’ 2000 national championship team before embarking on a distinguished 14-season NBA career. This family connection to Michigan State basketball created a natural path for Jase to follow, and he grew up hearing stories about his father’s accomplishments in East Lansing.
His mother, Jackie Paul-Richardson, played basketball at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and served as Jase’s personal coach from the time he was four years old through his high school career. This dual influence of professional-level guidance from both parents provided Richardson with an exceptional foundation for his basketball development.
Personal Life
Richardson’s younger brother, Jaxon Richardson, is a consensus five-star basketball recruit in the class of 2026, suggesting the family tradition of basketball success may continue. Jase has embraced his role as a big brother and mentor while also carrying the weight of the family legacy as he begins his professional career. His upbringing involved frequent moves due to his father’s NBA career, which exposed him to different environments and basketball cultures that helped shape his development.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NBA season marks Richardson’s rookie year in professional basketball with the Orlando Magic. After a standout college career that ended with a Big Ten championship and Elite Eight appearance, Richardson entered the NBA with high expectations from Magic fans and analysts alike. His transition to the professional level has involved adjusting to the faster pace, greater physical demands, and different team dynamics of the NBA.
During his rookie season, Richardson has worked to carve out his role within the Magic’s young roster, focusing on the aspects of his game that made him successful at Michigan State while continuing to develop other areas. The guidance of the coaching staff and veterans in the organization has helped ease his adjustment to professional basketball.
Looking ahead, Richardson represents part of Orlando’s long-term vision for building a competitive team. His efficiency, basketball IQ, and work ethic suggest he has the foundation to develop into a valuable NBA player. As he gains more experience and comfort within the system, expectations are that Richardson will take on an increased role with the Magic in future seasons.