Last Updated on August 7, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Josh Richardson has built a reputation as a dependable two-way guard who can contribute on both ends without needing a large offensive role. His defensive versatility, steady perimeter shooting, and team-oriented approach have helped him remain a valuable piece across multiple NBA rosters.

Here’s detailed information about Josh Richardson:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Joshua Michael Richardson
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born September 15, 1993
  • Hometown: Edmond, Oklahoma, USA
  • Height: 6’5″ (1.96 m)
  • Weight: 200 lbs (91 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6’10” (2.08 m)
  • Shoe Size: 13 (US)
  • Number: Commonly wears #0 or #3
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Small Forward
  • High School: Santa Fe High School (Edmond, Oklahoma)
  • College: University of Tennessee (2011–2015)
  • NBA Draft: Selected 40th overall in the 2nd round of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat
  • Teams Played For:
    1. Miami Heat (2015–2019)
    2. Philadelphia 76ers (2019–2020)
    3. Dallas Mavericks (2020–2021)
    4. Boston Celtics (2021–2022)
    5. San Antonio Spurs (2022–2023)
    6. New Orleans Pelicans (2023–present)
  • Championship Rings: None as of 2024
  • Kids: No publicly known children
  • Siblings: Has a sister, Alex Richardson, who is a collegiate basketball player.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Josh Richardson’s player archetype is that of a two-way 3-and-D wing who can slide between guard spots, take on tough perimeter assignments, and keep an offense connected without needing high usage. Defensively, he fits as a switchable point-of-attack and help defender, using his length, anticipation, and mobility to bother ball-handlers and contest across the wing. Offensively, his role is more complementary than primary, built around spot-up shooting, secondary pick-and-roll work, straight-line drives, and smart ball movement rather than heavy on-ball creation. Physically, Richardson brings solid wing size at 6-foot-5 with a lean 200-pound frame and long arms, which helps explain why his game has long leaned on versatility more than pure force. Taken together, his play style is best described as steady, functional, and two-way: a glue-type perimeter player who spaces the floor, defends multiple actions, and fills gaps wherever a lineup needs balance.

Scouting Report

Josh Richardson has always struck me as the kind of guard who makes life easier for stars without demanding the offence revolve around him. His game is built on reading advantages that someone else often creates, but that undersells his ability to keep those advantages alive. He flows naturally between spot-up shooting, secondary pick-and-rolls and sharp relocations along the perimeter, rarely holding the ball long enough for the defence to recover. When defenders close out too aggressively, he’s comfortable taking one or two controlled dribbles into the middle, drawing the low man before slipping a pass to a rolling big or kicking out to the opposite wing. Those aren’t spectacular assists, but they’re the connective plays that stop possessions from stalling. Defensively, that’s where his value has always been easiest to trust. He navigates screens with patience, stays attached through changes of direction and understands when to shade a ball-handler toward help instead of gambling for steals. The interesting thing is that he defends with his feet first. Rather than reaching, he’ll angle an opponent into uncomfortable pull-ups or force them toward a waiting rim protector, and he rotates quickly enough to peel switch when a teammate gets beaten at the point of attack. The trade-off is that he isn’t a player who consistently bends an entire defence through shot creation. Against longer, physical defenders, his handle can become a little predictable, and there are stretches where he’ll defer instead of putting pressure on the rim himself. That’s why I think he’s best suited alongside a primary creator who commands traps and extra attention, allowing Richardson to attack against a defence that’s already moving. He fits especially well on teams that value defensive communication and quick ball movement because neither side of the floor asks him to play outside his strengths. To me, his overall profile resembles Courtney Lee with more on-ball craft, while there are elements of Wesley Matthews in the way he balances perimeter shooting with disciplined wing defence, even if Richardson relies more on timing and fluidity than outright physical strength.

Player Insights

Josh Richardson’s numbers have been falling since the 2022-23 NBA Season and he was recently waived by the Utah Jazz. He spent the last two years playing in Miami but was caught up in a trade deadline deal that originally had sent him to the Pistons. It’s unclear if he can get out of this tailspin, but I think there’s a role for him on a contender looking for a cheap player to fill out the roster, not only this year but heading into 2025-26 also. He’s currently only 31 years old. 2/11/2025

Sources:
NBA.com — Josh Richardson | Guard | NBA.com
NBADraft.net — Josh Richardson
Basketball-Reference — Josh Richardson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
The Ringer — Josh Richardson and the Modern Art of Building a Star Wing