Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s the detailed profile of Mike Riordan:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Michael W. Riordan
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born July 9, 1945
  • Hometown: New York City, New York, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
  • Weight: 200 lbs (91 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6ft 5 in
  • Shoe Size: Size 13 (US)
  • Number: #6 (primarily)
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Small Forward
  • High School: Holy Cross High School, Queens, New York
  • College: Providence College
  • NBA Draft: Undrafted in 1967; signed as a free agent
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Knicks (1968–1971)
    • Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets (1971–1977)
  • Championship Rings: 1× NBA Champion (1970, with New York Knicks)
  • Kids: Not much publicly available information on children
  • Siblings: Not much publicly available information on siblings

Player Archetype / Play Style

Mike Riordan’s player archetype was that of a rugged two-way swingman: a left-handed guard-forward who brought defensive bite first, then filled in the offense as a secondary scorer, cutter, and opportunistic floor-spacer rather than a possession-dominating creator. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, he had the sturdy frame to check wings, the mobility to pressure ballhandlers, and the toughness to handle physical assignments, which fits with his 1972-73 All-Defensive Second Team selection and the Knicks-era reputation he built as part of winning, defense-minded rotations. Offensively, Riordan was more functional than flashy, working within team structure, moving without the ball, and contributing as a complementary piece who could score when needed without hijacking the flow. Overall, his play style reads as disciplined, hard-nosed, and team-oriented — the kind of dependable connector who helped good teams defend, stay organized, and win possessions with effort and versatility. (Basketball Reference)

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Mike Riordan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
NBA.com — Year-by-year NBA All-Defensive Teams
NBA.com — Legends profile: Walt Frazier
Providence Friars — Michael W. Riordan (1984) – Hall of Fame