Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor is joined by Bryce Simon to discuss why the Michigan State guard could be a great fit for multiple NBA teams. Hear the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on , , or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
Jace Richardson at Michigan State.
One thought I can’t help but shake with him.
First of all, 11 points per game this season, 3 boards, 1.9 assists, 39% from 3.
He’s a freshman, the son of Jason Richardson, former NBA player, had a great career, 2 time dunk contest winner, Jason Richardson, you see him sometimes there with the highlights on the sidelines watching his son, Jace Richardson, who’s 6’3.
I can’t help but shake.
The thought Brice.
Chase Richardson could end up a better NBA player than Dylan Harper.
I really believe that.
I really believe there’s a chance of that.
I’m not willing to say I’m gonna put 6’3, 185 pound point guard ahead of Dylan Harper, who’s 6’5, 6’6, over 200 pounds and having a really good year for Rutgers.
But there’s a chance that Jace Richardson.
Who’s 42% on catch and shoot 3s, 61% on mid-range pull-ups, 32% on dribble jumper threes, 72% at the rim, 87% from the free throw.
there’s a chance that guy ends up a top 345 player in this draft class.
Like he’s 6’3.
Yes, you’d rather he be 6’5, 6’6, of course, you’d rather that, but Donovan Mitchell is 6’3.
CJ McCollum is 6’3.
Jared McCain is 6’3, who would have been the rookie of the Year in all likelihood if he never got hurt.
Bradley Beal is 63.
Like Jace Richardson has great feel and touch, and I don’t know, I just think he’s gonna be freaking good, dude, and I, and I, and I want to rank him higher than I probably should.
So that’s, that’s my thought on Jace Richardson.
Maybe he ends up better than Dylan Harper.
Maybe this wasn’t as fun as I thought.
Like, I thought I was gonna have to like try to pitch you on Jace Richardson.
I didn’t realize we were gonna be in the same wavelength here.
I also wanna say, am I, am I crazy though?
Am I crazier than you?
Listen, uh, uh, Jace Richardson is just an archetype that I believe NBA teams look for.
Like, not only can he play on the ball, like you’re talking about, I think he has like real off-ball secondary playmaking ability too.
Like he lets the game come to him.
You mentioned the catch and shoot.
I just think in this league of jumbo primary initiators, you have all of these names that are bigger, and there’s some smaller ones still, but you have Cage, you have Luca, you have all of these guys.
I think teams are always, like, what was one of the biggest free agent signings of the summer that actually hasn’t panned out, but Orlando was, you gotta go get KCP this guy that can really shoot, can really defend.
Like, I feel like teams are always looking for those type of plays, players.
I think Jace Richardson has that.
I can think he can play off of those type of guys.
I think he can navigate ball screen.
I think he makes rotations defensively, like all of that stuff along with the ability to shoot, process the game, uh, the touch, the passing, all of it.
Like, you look at his numbers and it doesn’t blow you away.
I just think he’s a really, really good basketball player who, who knows what happens when he gets a little more usage and freedom and space and all of that.
