Jason Richardson announced his retirement on Instagram on Wednesday. A leg injury forced him to hang them up after spending the last few years as a journeymen who was mostly useful for his three-point shooting.
Remembering Jason Richardson, the NBA’s forgotten dunk king
Jason Richardson retired on Wednesday, but he left us plenty of highlight dunks to remember him by.
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Early in his career, however, Richardson was one of the best dunkers the league had ever seen. Richardson won back-to-back dunk competitions by combining ridiculous athleticism with flare and inventiveness.
He wasn’t only a dunk contest standout, though. If he was out on the break, he would throw down 360s and windmills with regularity, even after he departed Golden State.
When someone tried to stop him, things didn't go well for them. Here he is destroying Rasho Nesterovic.
He almost ended Manu Ginobili’s life here.
Not even Ben Wallace was safe.
Richardson wasn't just a dunker. He was also one of the most entertaining players of his generation when he was young. Who can forget him punking Carlos Boozer in the Rookie vs. Sophomore game?
He became a journeyman late in his career, with stints in Charlotte, Orlando and Philadelphia, where he was so old compared to his teammates that they got him adult diapers and baby food. Yet his still managed to drop 29 on the Thunder at age 33.
Richardson was on the Hawks' training camp roster this season, looking to end his career on a winning team. The discovery of bone spurs on his previously healthy right leg led him to make the decision to call it quits.
“I didn’t want to limp the rest of my life,” Richardson told Yahoo Sports. “I still have my whole life in front of me, God willing.”
Just like that, one of the best dunkers ever exited the game. He will now find immortality through all the highlights he left us.
Thanks for the dunks, J-Rich.
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