Usually, we judge an NBA career by championships, All-Star selections, and records broken. However, that method of measuring success is starkly different for Josh Richardson. The former Miami Heat player was focused on becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Although he earned a basketball scholarship at Tennessee, he only wanted his undergrad paid for. But five words changed Richardson forever. He recently called it a day on his decade-long professional hoops career.

In his farewell message, Richardson didn’t highlight his numbers. Instead, he hoped the people with whom he shared the journey would remember him as the person and teammate he was.

“I always gave my best; that’s why I can say this with no regret,” Richardson wrote on Instagram. “I am grateful to have been able to love this game, and it loved me back as much as it did. It wasn’t set up for me at any point in my career, and from high school, college, and the pros I humbly worked my butt off every day to be the best that I could be. All my fans, coaches and teammates, I hope I left a good impression and a positive view of me.”

Richardson also showcased a large carousel of photos celebrating key moments from his basketball career. Selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Richardson carved out a respectable career, spending most of his years with the Heat. Given his late pick, they didn’t hand out opportunities easily, but he steadily earned minutes and eventually became one of Miami’s most reliable two-way contributors.

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During the 2018-19 season, Richardson produced the best campaign of his career, averaging 16.6 points per game. He delivered numerous memorable performances, including a 37-point outing against the Warriors in which he knocked down 8 three-pointers.

But how did a surgeon-aspirant become an efficient shooter in the NBA?

At Tennessee, because Richardson got in on a basketball scholarship, he was required to train with the Volunteers. He also lived with the program’s star player, Jordan McRae. One fine day during his junior year, though, coach Cuonzo Martin “freaked out” on Richardson in front of the entire gymnasium.

“You could be so good!” Richardson remembered Martin saying. “You don’t take anything [seriously]!”

That.

That stuck with Richardson, who then took extra time out to train with his roommate and improve as a player. He went on to average 10.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in his senior year and even made it to the First Team All-SEC, the SEC All-Defensive Team, and the Defensive All-American Team.

Months later, the Heat drafted him with the 40th overall pick. Initially looking like a limited 3-D player, Richardson worked harder to become a better-rounded player. Back in 2018, Miami’s head coach Eric Spoelstra had only positive things to say about him.

“He’s been a very important player for us,” Coach Spo said. “It’s not necessarily the play calls or box-score stats, but when you feel J-Rich’s presence in a game, those are the games we’re very difficult to beat.”

Even a couple of years before that day, if you had predicted Richardson’s trajectory, it wouldn’t have pointed to the NBA…

That’s also because his parents have no professional ties to basketball. His father, Mike, is a retired OKC firefighter, and his mother, Alice, is a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve who now serves as an ordained Baptist minister. She did play some basketball, though, at Oklahoma Christian University in the 1980s. Richardson’s older sister, Alex, also played for the Oklahoma State Cowgirls.

Josh and his sister often received training from their mother on a makeshift space at their two-story house in Edmond.

“I would bring them home after the game, and I would be showing them in the kitchen what it is they should have done, working with them with a block-out drill and then having them try to block me out,” Alice said in 2022.

Later, Josh also admitted that his mother and father, who regularly attended games, taught him “discipline” and the “basics” of the game that he relied on throughout his career.

The Heat repeatedly relied on Richardson to embrace difficult defensive assignments. Only a few people understood that better than Dwyane Wade. The franchise legend quickly responded to his retirement announcement with a heartfelt comment.

“The coolest. I loved going into the trenches with you, young fella🫡,” Wade wrote.

The duo has a mentor-mentee relationship, and the veteran shaped him into a lethal spark plug.

However, it wasn’t all roses.

Richardson suited up for multiple NBA franchises before later continuing his professional journey overseas. He spent a single season with the Spanish club Casademont Zaragoza. Even as injuries affected him in the later stages of his career, Richardson kept looking for new opportunities.

But that beautiful career ended early. He’s hung up his boots at 32. Anyway, his farewell reflected gratitude more than disappointment. Ten seasons after entering the league as a second-round pick, Richardson leaves the game without regret. That’s a legacy many players would gladly accept.

Bam Adebayo was in Richardson’s comments section and posted “HMMMM 🤞🏾”

Meanwhile, his college roommate, McRae, replied, “From my roommate in college to a real brother… our parents still speak your family…. I cherish every moment and im grateful that I was apart of your journey. We brothers for life… can’t wait to be apart of another part of your life!!!!! Love you richy”

“J Richhhh! 🔥🔥🔥” the Heat’s official handle also commented.

Interestingly, the last slide of Richardson’s carousel displayed what looked like his bucket list along with the following points.

“Be more present in life and with family, Learn to snowboard, DJ a music festival, Produce an album, More solo traveling, Say YES, Don’t forget to (finally) relax and enjoy.”

That does give us an idea of what Richardson plans to do after a decade-long career.

Happy retirement, Rich.