Nick Richards

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Lore & Background

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Richards attended Jamaica College and competed in football, volleyball and track and field before being discovered by Andre Ricketts, a New York City-based basketball scout, in the summer of 2013 during a basketball camp in Jamaica. Ricketts brought him to the U.S., where Richards attended St. Mary's High School in Manhasset, New York. He transferred to The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey in 2014. He was ranked a five-star recruit in the class of 2017 (by ESPN) and committed to the University of Kentucky in November 2016. He was UK's first commit in the class of 2017 and chose Kentucky over Syracuse and Arizona. Richards played in the 2017 McDonald's All-American Boys Game, scoring two points, grabbing two rebounds and tallying two blocked shots in 14 minutes of action. Participating in the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic, he had ten points and three boards in 16 minutes of play. Richards was picked to play for the World Select Team at the 2017 Nike Hoop Summit. He saw 19:29 minutes of action during the game, scoring 12 points and grabbing three rebounds. In college, he had then-career highs of 25 points and 15 rebounds on November 22, 2017, contributing to the Wildcats' 86–67 win over IPFW. He averaged 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as a freshman but saw his playing time decrease as the season went on. Richards posted 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore and led the team in blocks. Following the season, he declared for the 2019 NBA draft but opted to return to Kentucky. On November 8, 2019, Richards scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Kentucky defeated Eastern Kentucky 91–49. He had 21 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks on January 4, 2020, in a 71–59 win over Missouri. Richards had 25 points including the two clinching free throws and 13 rebounds on January 25, in a 76–74 overtime win over Texas Tech. On February 4, Richards set a new career high with 27 points on an 80–72 win over Mississippi State. At the conclusion of the regular season, Richards was named to the First Team All-SEC. He averaged 14 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Following the season, Richards declared for the 2020 NBA draft. In the 2020 NBA draft, Richards was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans 42nd overall and immediately traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick. On Novem

In Their Own Story

The professional path was not linear. After being drafted by New Orleans and traded to Charlotte on a rookie scale contract signed November 30, 2020, Richards saw minimal action initially, averaging just 3.5 minutes per game in the 2020–21 season. He found his footing with the Greensboro Swarm, posting 26 points and 10 rebounds in his G League debut on February 21, 2021. By October 2022, he was a key contributor for Charlotte, scoring 19 points against the Spurs and a then-career-high 20 points against the Hawks. His breakout continued into 2024, where he posted 26 points and 13 rebounds in a loss to the Utah Jazz. On January 15, 2025, Richards was traded to the Phoenix Suns alongside a future second-round pick for Josh Okogie and three other picks. He made an immediate impact, recording a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double off the bench in his debut against Detroit, becoming the first Suns center to achieve this feat. After averaging 9.5 points and 8.6 rebounds in 34 starts for Phoenix, he was traded again on February 5, 2026, to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal involving Milwaukee.

Reader's Guide

Nick Richards is a center known for his rebounding and shot-blocking. He played college basketball at Kentucky, where he was named First Team All-SEC in his junior season. He was drafted 42nd overall in the 2020 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans and immediately traded to the Charlotte Hornets. After stints with the Hornets, Phoenix Suns, and Chicago Bulls, he signed with the Miami Heat in 2026.

Did You Know?

• Richards was discovered at a basketball camp in Jamaica by scout Andre Ricketts in 2013.
• He played in the 2017 McDonald's All-American Boys Game and the Jordan Brand Classic.
• Richards was named First Team All-SEC in the 2019–20 season.
• He recorded a career-high 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets on January 27, 2024.
• Richards became the first Suns center to record a double-double of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in his debut off the bench.