Josh Richardson, who played for six NBA teams during his career, announced his retirement from professional basketball on Wednesday at the age of 32. Richardson shared his decision in an Instagram post, expressing gratitude for his time in the league.
"I always gave my best, that’s why i can say this with no regret,” Richardson wrote. “I am grateful to have been able to love this game and it love me back as much as it did. It wasn’t set up for me at any point in my career, and from high school, college, and the pros i humbly worked my butt off every day be the best that i could be."
He concluded his message by thanking his fans, coaches, and teammates, stating, “All my fans, coaches and teammates, i hope i left a good impression and a positive view of me. Love, JRICH.” Richardson confirmed his retirement with a laughing emoji at the end of his caption.
Richardson began his NBA career as a second-round pick by the Miami Heat in 2015. He quickly became a rotation player for the Heat, contributing significant minutes during their playoff run to the Eastern Conference semifinals. During his initial four-year stint with Miami, he averaged a career-high 16.6 points per game in the 2018-19 season.
His career then saw him play for the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks for two seasons each, maintaining averages above 12 points per game and demonstrating effective free-throw shooting. He was traded to the San Antonio Spurs from the Boston Celtics midway through the 2021-22 season as part of the Derrick White trade.
After brief periods with the Spurs and the New Orleans Pelicans, Richardson returned to the Miami Heat in 2023. However, he was unable to replicate his previous performance levels, averaging under 10 points per game across his final two seasons with the team. In the 2024-25 season, Richardson played in only eight games and did not start any. Prior to his NBA career, he also played briefly for Spanish club Zaragoza.