Jason Anthoney "J-Rich" Richardson (born January 20 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan) is an American professional basketball player, currently playing shooting guard for the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats. He formerly played for the Golden State Warriors, from whom he was traded June 28, 2007 after six years with the team.
The Warriors drafted him with the 5th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft out of Michigan State University. It was while playing with Michigan State that he and fellow current NBA players Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell, and Morris Peterson (and current Melbourne Tiger and NBL first-teamer Dave Thomas) won an NCAA National Championship.
Richardson won the NBA Slam Dunk Contests in 2002 and 2003, joining Michael Jordan as the only players to have won in consecutive years. Richardson competed in the 2004 contest as well but lost to Fred Jones.
The long time captain of the Warriors, Richardson organized a letter of apology to Warrior fans after they failed to make the NBA playoffs for the 12th straight season. It ran in several Bay Area newspapers. Although no longer playing for Golden State, he remains one of the most popular players among Warrior fans, and is known for his electric style of play and ability to shoot a three-pointer. Richardson set the Warrior franchise record for three-pointers in a game (8) in a home win against the Phoenix Suns.
On March 23, 2006, Richardson rebounded a free throw shot by the Dallas Mavericks' Jason Terry. He then ran up court and made a spin-move around Terry and hit a three-pointer to win the game for the Warriors.
On June 28, 2007, Richardson, along with the draft rights to Golden State's 2007 Draft selection of forward Jermareo Davidson with the 36th pick, were traded to the Charlotte Bobcats for the draft rights to the eighth pick Brandan Wright.
On January 9, 2008, Richardson led the Bobcats to a road win against the Boston Celtics after scoring 34 points. This was only the Celtics' fourth loss of the season and second loss at home. It was also the Bobcats' second road win of the season, ending an 11 game road losing streak.
