Miami Heat: Tribute to Josh Richardson before he’s officially the enemy
Former Miami Heat swingman Josh Richardson was birthed into this league in South Beach. Before he’s officially the enemy, let’s pay homage to J-Rich.
The Miami Heat are known for being able to make something out of nothing. It is a commonly used tactic by the Miami Heat, one specifically used a ton over the past few seasons due to a lack of financial flexibility. On top of using it out of necessity though, the Miami Heat have gotten pretty good at it.
A plethora of examples have been right in front of your faces if you follow the Miami Heat. Take the Miami Heat Lifer and OG Udonis Haslem in example. Who played overseas for a season before being signed by the Heat and turned into a Heat Lifer, a championship-caliber player, and a model of exemplary fashion for the Heat culture.
You could even look at a certain former Miami Heat center, he who is not to be named, that was bouncing around local gyms in search of pick-up opportunities before the Miami Heat turned him into a $100 million dollar NBA player. You could even take Derrick Jones Jr., Airplane Mode to us, who they somehow couldn’t find a role for in Phoenix(they really dropped the ball there). One of the most impressive gems that the Miami Heat unearthed though, is one Joshua Michael Richardson.
J-Rich was a second-round pick out of Tennesee in the 2015 NBA Draft, 40th overall to be exact. He played alongside a walking talking collegiate bucket in Jordan McRae(currently of the Washington Wizards), operating as the point guard and defensive stopper to McRae’s gunner role for their Tennesee Volunteers teams. While a few of us knew that the Miami Heat had landed a steal of a player with the 10th pick of the second round, many others would soon find out.
What J-Rich ultimately became for the Miami Heat was a leader. He was the preeminent swingman for the team, capable of not only operating as the main ball handler when needed, but also as the main defensive stopper in charge of guarding the opposing team’s best wing.
His story, his journey, and the way he played the game embodies what Heat Culture means. He wasn’t a highly touted NBA prospect, nor was he highly regarded even after being drafted, but through hard work, discipline, dedication, and determination, he became one of the best players on the Miami Heat’s team.
He experienced steady progression and improvement from season to season, going from 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game across 21.3 minutes played in his rookie year, to 16.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 34.8 minutes played per game on last year. You also love the fact that he’s averaged at least almost a steal per game across his time in the league as well, going from 0.7 steals per game in his rookie year to 1.1, 1.5, and 1.1 per game in the following corresponding years.
What we are trying to say here is that we appreciate you J-Rich. We appreciate you reciprocating the love and trust that the organization showed in you, which was evident in your steady improvement from year to year.
We appreciate everything you were able to accomplish as a member of the Miami Heat, although we wish it could have been more. We appreciate you stepping up and being the guy to the best of your abilities during last season, when you may have not been ready for that.
Mostly, we appreciate you being a quality enough player to help facilitate the deal that brought Buckets to Biscayne. We appreciate you Josuélito!
Who knows, and I hope this to be the case soon, but maybe he ends up back in South Beach. While that is in the future, in the present and although you will forever be family, you are the immediate enemy now.
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That is why before you suited up to play your first-ever regular-season game in a uniform that didn’t have “Heat” across the front of it, we just wanted to let you know these things. Best of luck and kill the season, unless you are playing against the Miami Heat, of course.