Quentin Richardson
NBA sharpshooter and three-point contest champion who briefly passed through Memphis without playing.
Quentin Lamar Richardson (born April 13, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player who was formerly the director of player development for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Q-Ball", he played professionally for 13 seasons for the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic. He won the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2005.
- Role
- Veteran Small Forward / Sixth Man
- Affiliation
- Memphis Grizzlies (2010-2011)
- First Appears
- January 2010 via trade from Miami Heat
- Status
- Former Player
- Key Trait
- Aggressive Defense and Mid-Range Scoring
Lore & Background
Richardson was born in Chicago, Illinois, attended Whitney Young High School, and led the Dolphins to the state AA title in 1998. He played college basketball for DePaul University, where he averaged 17.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in two seasons. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 18th pick of the 2000 NBA draft. On New Year's Eve 2003, he posted a career-high 44 points. He set a Suns single-season record for three-point field goals in 2004–05 and won the NBA All-Star Three-Point Shootout that same season. He was traded four times within 49 days in 2009, including a brief stint with the Memphis Grizzlies (traded to them on June 25, 2009, and traded away 22 days later on July 17, 2009, without playing a game for them). He later worked as director of player development for the Detroit Pistons and co-hosts the Knuckleheads podcast with Darius Miles.
In Their Own Story
The FedExForum hummed with tension as the fourth quarter wound down. Quentin Richardson, sweat dripping from his brow under the harsh arena lights, locked onto his defender. There was no hesitation in his eyes; only the familiar fire of a player who had seen it all before. He caught the inbound pass, drove hard into the paint, and absorbed the contact without flinching, finishing with a tough layup that silenced the opposing crowd.
Reader's Guide
Quentin Richardson played for the Los Angeles Clippers (2000–2004), Phoenix Suns (2004–2005), New York Knicks (2005–2009), Miami Heat (2009–2010), and Orlando Magic (2010–2012), with a brief return to the Knicks in 2013. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on June 25, 2009, but was traded away 22 days later on July 17, 2009, and never played a game for the franchise. His final NBA game was on May 11, 2013.
Did You Know?
- Richardson was traded four times within 49 days in 2009, including a 22-day stint with the Memphis Grizzlies during which he never played a game.
- He set a Phoenix Suns single-season record for three-point field goals in 2004–05, with 226 three-pointers.
- Richardson co-hosts the Knuckleheads podcast with former teammate Darius Miles.
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