Orlando Magic select son of Warriors legend in 2025 NBA Draft

Magic say “We Believe” in Michigan State guard.

With the 25th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic selected Jase Richardson from Michigan State University. His full name: Jason Anthoney Richardson II.

If that name rings some bells, it’s because he is the son of Warriors legend Jason Richardson, affectionately known to Dubs fans as J-Rich. A two-time Slam Dunk champion and a member of the legendary “We Believe” Warriors that sent the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks home as the eighth seed in the 2007 playoffs, J-Rich now has a son about to play in the league.

Unlike his father, Jase is not as explosive of an athlete and dunker. However, what he does possess is perimeter shooting: 41.2% on 3.2 three-point attempts per game with the Spartans. Measured at a flat 6 feet without shoes, Jase isn’t as tall as his father, which probably played a significant part in him being selected as a late first rounder.

Stylistically, Jase is closer to Steph Curry than he is to J-Rich, in the sense that he is an off-ball mover who has flashed chops as a movement shooter. He improved his on-ball creation this past season with Michigan State, while his 6’5” wingspan provides him with decent defensive upside for an undersized combo guard. The rationale for the Magic drafting him may be that they can survive with an undersized guard on defense with help from their corps of lengthy wings and bigs that will be there to help Jase, while banking on his shooting translating into the next level — a skill set the Magic are in dire need of, as evidenced by their recent acquisition of Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies.