Pooh Richardson is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for eight seasons. He was born on April 14, 1966, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college basketball.
Richardson was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 1989 NBA draft, as the 10th overall pick. He played for the Timberwolves for three seasons, from 1989 to 1992, and was the team's starting point guard for most of his time there. Richardson was known for his quickness, ball-handling skills, and ability to distribute the ball to his teammates.
In 1992, Richardson was traded to the Indiana Pacers, where he played for two seasons. He was a backup point guard for the Pacers, behind Mark Jackson, but still played an important role on the team. Richardson was known for his solid defense and his ability to hit the open jump shot.
After his time with the Pacers, Richardson played for several other NBA teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers, the Toronto Raptors, and the Philadelphia 76ers. He was primarily a backup point guard for these teams, but still contributed to their success.
Richardson's best statistical season came in 1993-94, when he averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 assists, and 1.9 steals per game for the Timberwolves. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1990 and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1994.
Richardson retired from the NBA in 1999, after playing for the Vancouver Grizzlies. He finished his career with averages of 10.3 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Richardson was known for his unselfish play and his ability to make his teammates better.
After retiring from basketball, Richardson worked as a television analyst for the Timberwolves and also worked as a coach at the high school and college levels. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
Overall, Pooh Richardson had a solid NBA career, playing for several teams and contributing to their success. He was known for his quickness, ball-handling skills, and ability to distribute the ball to his teammates. Richardson was also a solid defender and was recognized for his defensive abilities with an NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection in 1994.
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