He became the 25th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points in 2001, and his 20,497 career points rank 34th all-time. Of the 24 eligible players who've scored more points than Richmond in the NBA, every single one is in the Hall of Fame. Despite averaging just 4.1 points per game in his final season, Richmond's career scoring average of 21.0 is the seventh-highest among all eligible guards and the 25th-highest among all retired players — higher than Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, and Moses Malone to name only a few.
When debating a player's candidacy, many people argue that a player needs to have been among the clear-cut best at his position for the majority of his career. Richmond was the most proficient scoring guard in the 1990's (16,173 points), and his 22.5 points per game over the decade are well ahead of competitors Reggie Miller (20.6) and Clyde Drexler (20.4).
During Jordan's two-year retirement from 1993 to 1995, Richmond established himself as the league's top shooting guard, ranking first in points, field goals, and free throws; fifth in three-pointers made and ninth in three-point percentage; sixth in rebounds; and seventh in steals and assists. Over the course of his entire career he ranks behind only Jordan, who took nearly seven more shots per contest, and Miller, who played 115 more games, among all guards in total points.
Although he never made the NBA All-Defensive Team, Jordan called Richmond his toughest match-up and one of the best players that ever guarded him. Richmond frustrated "His Airness" at times with strong position defense, making Jordan work for every single point and forcing him to expend a lot of energy on both ends.
In their 15 match-ups (I'm leaving out the 2001-02 season, since games like this don't help either player's statistics), Richmond tied or outscored Jordan seven times, averaging 23.1 points (45% FG, 44% 3PT), 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals against him. Sure, Jordan still put up 30.8 points in those games, but no one could ever claim to be a Jordan-stopper, since he averaged 35.2 points against Drexler and 31.0 against five-time All-Defensive-Teamer Joe Dumars (including games with 61 and 59 points).
Richmond was selected to six straight NBA All-Star Games from 1993 to 1998, winning the MVP in 1995, and made three All-NBA Second and two All-NBA Third Teams. According to databaseBasketball, 80% of players with two and 96% of players with three All-NBA First Team selections have made the Hall of Fame. Granted, since Richmond's career coincided with Jordan's, he had almost no chance of being named to the First Team in most seasons.
The only other shooting guard who made it to the First Team over Richmond during that five-year span was Latrell Sprewell in 1993-94, who sported a 15.6 PER, the third-best on his own team, and put up 21.0 points (43% FG, 36% 3PT, 77% FT), 4.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists (15.4 assist percentage), compared to Richmond's 17.7 PER and averages of 23.4 points (45% FG, 41% 3PT, 83% FT), 3.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists (18.5 assist percentage). In other years, despite finishing second among all shooting guards in PER, he was relegated to the Second and Third Teams in favor of point guards Anfernee Hardaway, John Stockton, and Gary Payton.
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Article comments
1 - Dan
Totally Agree... Mitch should be in the Hall, and I will be voting also..
2 - Emory Addison
Mitch Richmond was one of the best shooting guards as well as a basketball player to ever play in the Association and he let his play speak for him. He was always prepared and a class act and a true professional. I was always enjoyed watching him compete. He deserves to be voted into the Hall of Fame!