Richardson left on his terms, having received an advisory memo from his tender knees. He’s 34. His hops are gone. It was time.
Every so often during the many dreadful seasons that defined the Warriors between 1994 and 2006, there would be a tiny flicker of light that forced you to wonder if, at last, this team might actually be worth your time.
Jason Richardson, who retired on Wednesday, provided one of those flickers.
How? By winning back-to-back Slam Dunk contests.
Richardson was the first of three picks the Warriors had in the 2001 draft.