Mitch Richmond--The Day is Here
by Chris Navalta
Chris Webber, Rich Adelman and Peja Stojakovic may have been the ones who
have made the Sacramento Kings a title contender. But it was Mitch
Richmond who put the Kings on the map in the first place.
Despite being the main concern for opposing teams, Richmond still managed
to average over 20 points a game and make six All-Star Game appearances –
including getting MVP honors in the 1995 game.
On Friday, Richmond's services with the organization will be rewarded as
his No. 2 jersey will be retired at halftime of the Kings game against the
Minnesota Timberwolves.
"I'm very excited," Richmond said. "It's a special honor. They've invited
me into the Kings family for good and for life. It's a great honor. I'm
just over joyed by the organization coming together and doing such a
thing."
Richmond was the fifth overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft by the Golden
State Warriors. With the addition of Tim Hardaway the following year,
Richmond, Hardaway and Chris Mullin formed the league’s top scoring and
most prolific trios. Known for their up-tempo style in scoring, the trio
eventually became nationally known as "Run TMC".
In 1991, their reign ended early when Richmond was traded on the eve of
the start of the 1991-92 season. Richmond was traded to Sacramento, along
with Les Jepsen for the rights to Billy Owens, a third overall pick by the
Kings out of Syracuse. The move was indeed a surprise throughout the Bay
Area – especially Richmond, who thought he has established a home with
the Warriors.
"No doubt," Richmond said. "They had a family-oriented thing down at Go
lden State. They were the team that drafted me and I thought I was going
to be playing there the rest of my career. I never thought I was going to
be moving on."
Richmond had continued success as a member of the Kings, averaging 22.5
points in his first full season. The next year, Richmond became the first
King to be named to the All-Star Game since 1991.
Richmond flourished in a Kings uniform. But the team as a whole continued
its struggles. Despite six All-Star Game appearances by Richmond, the
Kings were 221-353 during his seven-year tenure. And despite leading the
Kings to the playoffs in 1996 for the first time in 10 years, it was the
only appearance the team would make with Richmond on the team.
"When I came to Sacramento, they were going through a really tough time,"
Richmond said. "First, you had a great team （Golden State） and then you
had to start and rebuild all over again （having gone to Sacramento）. We
never really got it over the hump with all our struggles. But now, they
're receiving benefits from those long struggles. And they deserve it."
Richmond was the primary target for opposing teams game after game. And
despite defenses formulating gameplans revolving around Sacramento's
primary offense, Richmond was still able to find the basket on a
consistent basis. Much of that credit went to his supporting cast.
"I really have to give credit to some of my teammates," Richmond said.
"Every night, they were looking for me and they found me. Even during
certain situations when guys were keying on me. But I know what you're
saying. It is amazing sometimes when I look back at it. There were some
hard nights. But they were good times."
Over the years, the Kings were able to pick up other players whom would
also become fan favorites in the community. Those players also developed
friendships with Richmond even when players eventually wenttheir seperate
ways.
"You know, I had some great teammates," Richmond said. "I think over the
years, that's what you really take from this game. There was Walt
Williams, Randy Brown, Spud Webb, Billy Owens. All these guys that I've
played with, we still talk and hang out a little. That's what you really
take from this game. Because you can't play it as long as you want to
play it. So what you get in return are those friendships."
In 1999, during the strike-shortened season, Richmond was traded to
Washington for Webber, beginning what would eventually become an elite
team in Sacramento. And nobody would go on to wear No. ２ since
Richmond's departure. He continued to put up solid numbers with the
Wizards and played his final year in the 2001-2002 season with the L.A.
Lakers. There, he ended on top, winning his first championship ring in
his career. Having played for struggling teams, All-Star teams and
Olympic teams, Richmond has enjoyed his 14-year career and could very
well make the Hall of Fame. Having enjoyed the triumphs as well as the
struggles, he took nothing for granted and was thankful for everything
he received.
"I think I've gone full circle," Richmond said. "There were some
struggles that started early. There were some rough roads. But I had the
opportunity to get the ring. So, it felt good."
There are still plenty of Mitch Richmond fans in Sacramento. He received
a warm ovation during the annual Vlade Divac CharitaBowl on Wednesday.
He's sure to have another warm welcome when he returns to ARCO to see his
jersey hang from the rafters.
One Richmond fan while growing up is current King Anthony Peeler. Peeler,
a Kings fan as a teenager, also followed Richmond's career during his
college days at Kansas State.
"I was always following Mitch Richmond," Peeler said. "That was my main
concern because everybody wanted to be like Mitch. Growing up, I'd see
Mitch at Kansas State all the time. He just lived up the street from me.
To see him come in here and do what he did, I was always following him.
It wasn’t that hard to become a Kings fan because I knew Mitch Richmond
was on the team.”
Regardless how far the Kings go this year -- as well as years to come --
die-hard fans will remember who put their beloved team on the map. And
years from now, when people talk basketball, Mitch Richmond should rank
among the hot topics of discussions.
"I want to be remembered just as a guy who left it all on the floor,"
Richmond said. "It didn't matter if we lost 20 in a row. I just want to
be remembers as a guy who came to play every night."
http://www.nba.com/kings/news/Mitch_RichmondThe_Day_is_Her-92462-58.html
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