Miami Heat: 4 of Josh Richardson’s best games of 2016-17

Miami Heat’s Josh Richardson is on the cusp of a breakout year, so let’s look at some of his best performances of 2016-17.

Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson is someone to keep your eye on this season. Especially if his first preseason performance is any indication of what’s to come.

The No. 40 overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, no one expected much of Richardson when he first entered the league. A four-year player out of the University of Tennessee, not only was little known of the Oklahoma-native, but he was quickly overshadowed by fellow Heat rookie Justise Winslow.

Heat Nation should have known better though.

And not just because president Pat Riley hasn’t let the organization down yet.

Richardson averaged 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals a game over his four years as a Volunteer, with his senior year numbers coming in at 16.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest. He was named to the First Team All SEC, SEC All-Defensive Team and the Defensive All-American. He also ranked third in school history in games played (136), ninth in minutes played (3,802) and tenth in steals (147).

So clearly, the Heat didn’t draft no chump.

As a rookie, he averaged 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists a matchup, in 21.3 minutes of play over 52 games. Maybe not the most impressive start to a NBA career, but certainly doing his part. This included a 19-point game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as scoring 15 points versus the Golden State Warriors. He also recorded a15-point first-round playoff performance, in a Game 2 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

The potential was there, he just needed more opportunity. Which of course came with time.

So, let’s take a look back at four of Richardson’s best games of 2016-17.