Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Nick Richards worked his way from a developmental prospect into a dependable NBA big man through steady improvement and persistence. Known for his rebounding, rim protection, and efficiency around the basket, he has carved out a valuable role by focusing on the fundamentals that help teams win.

Here’s the detailed information on Nick Richards:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Nicholas Richards
  • Nationality: Jamaican
  • Age: Born on November 29, 1997
  • Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
  • Height: 7 feet 0 inches (213 cm)
  • Weight: 245 lbs (111 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 4 inches (224 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 19 (US)
  • Number: 14 (commonly worn in the NBA)
  • Position: Center
  • High School:
    • St. Mary’s High School (Jamaica)
    • Patrick School (Hillside, New Jersey, USA)
  • College: University of Kentucky (2017–2020)
  • NBA Draft: 2020 NBA Draft, 2nd round, 42nd overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans (rights traded to the Charlotte Hornets)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Charlotte Hornets (2020–present)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: None
  • Siblings: Has a brother, Marcus, and a sister, Nana

Player Archetype / Play Style

Nick Richards’ player archetype is that of a rim-running, paint-finishing center, a traditional big whose value comes from screen setting, rebounding, interior defense, and efficient scoring close to the basket. Defensively, he fits best as a drop-coverage anchor who protects the lane with length, contests around the rim, and cleans up possessions on the glass rather than switching out and chasing guards in space. Offensively, Richards operates mainly as a lob target, pick-and-roll finisher, dump-off option, and second-chance scorer, doing most of his damage through hustle, verticality, and simple reads instead of self-created offense. Physically, he brings legit center size at roughly 6-foot-11 and 245 pounds, with a long frame, good reach, and enough mobility to run the floor and play above the rim. His overall play style is straightforward but useful: he plays with energy, rebounds hard, finishes efficiently, and gives a team a dependable interior presence when it needs size and activity in the middle. (NBA)

Scouting Report

Nick Richards is at his best when he keeps the game simple, and that’s meant as a compliment rather than a limitation. He understands where his offense comes from. Set a solid screen, sprint into the lane, force the weak-side defender to make a decision and be ready to finish the moment a passing window opens. What stands out is how consistently he rolls with purpose instead of drifting through the action. He puts real pressure on the rim, giving ball handlers a reliable target above the cylinder, and he has improved at catching difficult passes in traffic without bringing the ball down into the crowd. He’s also more effective around offensive rebounds than he sometimes gets credit for because he doesn’t just chase the ball—he creates inside position before it comes off the rim. The trade-off is that his offensive game narrows considerably when he’s asked to create from the post or make plays with the ball in his hands. He’s much more comfortable making immediate reads than surveying the floor for several seconds. Defensively, Richards looks most natural protecting the paint in drop coverage, using his length to discourage drives and staying patient instead of biting on every shot fake. He covers vertical space well and forces opponents into higher-arcing finishes, but quicker offenses that drag him into repeated pick-and-rolls or force late switches away from the basket can expose his change-of-direction limitations. To me, his ideal fit is alongside guards who live in the paint and consistently collapse the first line of the defense, because his screening and vertical spacing become genuine offensive weapons rather than secondary options. It’s easy to overlook how many possessions he improves simply by occupying both his defender and the low man, creating cleaner driving lanes without ever touching the ball. That’s a valuable skill that doesn’t show up in traditional statistics. His game has similarities to Clint Capela because of the emphasis on rim running, rebounding and interior defense, while there are shades of Daniel Gafford in the way he turns timing and length into efficient finishing without needing designed touches to stay involved.

Sources:

NBA.com — SUNS ACQUIRE CENTER NICK RICHARDS FROM CHARLOTTE
Basketball-Reference — Nick Richards Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Sports Illustrated — Breaking down the Charlotte Hornets’ trade of Nick Richards