Pooh Richardson
Encyclopedia
Jerome "Pooh" Richardson (born May 14, 1966 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) is an American former National Basketball Association
(NBA) player. he was selected in the first round of the 1989 NBA Draft
by the Minnesota Timberwolves
, their first draft pick in franchise history. He would also play for the Indiana Pacers
and Los Angeles Clippers
during his 10-year NBA career from 1989 to 1999.
Richardson played college basketball
for the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA) from 1985 to 1989. He set school records for assists
and three-point field goal percentage.
His nickname came from his grandmother, who thought he resembled Winnie the Pooh.
, and played basketball in the Sonny Hill League. He was a McDonald’s All-American while playing at Ben Franklin High School. He led Ben Franklin to the Public League
championship in 1984. The Philadelphia Tribune
called Richardson a "a basketball legend in [Philadelphia]."
recruited Richardson to play for the Bruins
. He was a four-year starter
at UCLA from 1985–1989. In his freshman year, he was honored as the team's most valuable freshman player and outstanding defensive player. The following season, he was named to the first-team All-Pac-10 team. In his junior year, he was named the team's most valuable player
(MVP) and again was first-team All-Pac-10. In Richardson's senior year, he was the team's MVP for the second consecutive year, first-team All-Pac-10 for the third year in a row, and the Bruins' outstanding defensive player for the second time in his career.
As of 2010, Richardson still held UCLA records for most assists
in a career (833), most assists in a season (236) and highest career three-point field goal percentage (46.4).
was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves
with the tenth overall pick of the 1989 NBA Draft
out of UCLA
. He was their first ever draft choice and played for them for their first three seasons until 1992 when he was traded along with Sam Mitchell
to the Indiana Pacers
in exchange for Chuck Person
and Micheal Williams
in the offseason. In 1994, the Pacers dealt him to the Los Angeles Clippers
along with Malik Sealy
and 1994 draft
pick Eric Piatkowski
in exchange for Mark Jackson
and the draft rights to Greg Minor
.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
) is an American former National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) player. he was selected in the first round of the 1989 NBA Draft
1989 NBA Draft
The 1989 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1989 in New York City, New York, USA. It has been regarded as one of the worst drafts in NBA history, along with the 1986 NBA Draft and the 2000 NBA Draft. Though the draft produced talented players such as Shawn Kemp, Glen Rice, Sean Elliott, Nick...
by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
, their first draft pick in franchise history. He would also play for the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
during his 10-year NBA career from 1989 to 1999.
Richardson played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for the University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA Bruins men's basketball
The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
(UCLA) from 1985 to 1989. He set school records for assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
and three-point field goal percentage.
His nickname came from his grandmother, who thought he resembled Winnie the Pooh.
Early life
Richardson grew up in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, and played basketball in the Sonny Hill League. He was a McDonald’s All-American while playing at Ben Franklin High School. He led Ben Franklin to the Public League
Philadelphia Public League
The Philadelphia Public League traces its origin back to 1901, with the formation of the Philadelphia Interscholastic League, a conference encompassing all the city's high schools, public and private. Prior to this date, the public and private schools in the area had been competing among...
championship in 1984. The Philadelphia Tribune
Philadelphia Tribune
The Philadelphia Tribune is an American newspaper, headquartered at 520 South 16th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that primarily targets the African American community. Published Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, it is the oldest continually running African-American newspaper,...
called Richardson a "a basketball legend in [Philadelphia]."
College
UCLA head coach Walt HazzardWalt Hazzard
Walter "Walt" Raphael Hazzard Jr. , also known as Mahdi Abdul-Rahman, was an American college, Olympic, and professional basketball player and college basketball coach...
recruited Richardson to play for the Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
. He was a four-year starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
at UCLA from 1985–1989. In his freshman year, he was honored as the team's most valuable freshman player and outstanding defensive player. The following season, he was named to the first-team All-Pac-10 team. In his junior year, he was named the team's most valuable player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
(MVP) and again was first-team All-Pac-10. In Richardson's senior year, he was the team's MVP for the second consecutive year, first-team All-Pac-10 for the third year in a row, and the Bruins' outstanding defensive player for the second time in his career.
As of 2010, Richardson still held UCLA records for most assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
in a career (833), most assists in a season (236) and highest career three-point field goal percentage (46.4).
NBA career
The 6'1" point guardPoint guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
with the tenth overall pick of the 1989 NBA Draft
1989 NBA Draft
The 1989 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1989 in New York City, New York, USA. It has been regarded as one of the worst drafts in NBA history, along with the 1986 NBA Draft and the 2000 NBA Draft. Though the draft produced talented players such as Shawn Kemp, Glen Rice, Sean Elliott, Nick...
out of UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. He was their first ever draft choice and played for them for their first three seasons until 1992 when he was traded along with Sam Mitchell
Sam Mitchell (basketball)
Samuel "Sam" E. Mitchell, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player and a former head coach in the National Basketball Association . He is currently an assistant coach with the New Jersey Nets....
to the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in exchange for Chuck Person
Chuck Person
Chuck Connors Person is a retired American National Basketball Association player and current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.-High school and college:...
and Micheal Williams
Micheal Williams
Micheal Douglas Williams is a retired American professional basketball player at the point guard position in the National Basketball Association ....
in the offseason. In 1994, the Pacers dealt him to the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
along with Malik Sealy
Malik Sealy
Malik Sealy was an American professional basketball player, active from 1992 until his death in an automobile accident at the age of 30...
and 1994 draft
1994 NBA Draft
The 1994 NBA Draft took place on June 29, 1994 in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is notable for the fact that two NBA rookies of the year were picked in the first round, as Jason Kidd and Grant Hill were co-winners of the award for the 1994–95 NBA season...
pick Eric Piatkowski
Eric Piatkowski
Eric Todd Piatkowski is a former American professional basketball player. He most recently played for the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns. He is the son of former ABA player Walt Piatkowski.-High school career:...
in exchange for Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson (basketball)
Mark A. Jackson is a retired American professional basketball player and the current head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He played point guard for the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and Houston Rockets in the NBA in a career...
and the draft rights to Greg Minor
Greg Minor
Greg Magado Minor is an American assistant basketball coach with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League. He is a former NBA basketball player with the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers...
.