Philadelphia 76ers: Josh Richardson snubbed from list of top shooting guards
The Philadelphia 76ers’ Swiss Army Knife was nowhere to be found on Bleacher Report’s list of the top-15 shooting guards.
In preparation for the resumption of NBA basketball later this month, Bleacher Report continues to roll out rankings of the top 15 players at every position. Yesterday, it was Ben Simmons, who ranked fourth at the point guard position. Today was shooting guards.
Unfortunately for the Philadelphia 76ers, Josh Richardson was nowhere to be found. While this is certainly not the pinnacle of Richardson’s career — he was better last season in Miami — it’s still a bit strange to see him snubbed from a top-15 list.
At his best, I would argue Richardson is a borderline top-10 shooting guard. And while this season has not been Richardson at this best, a few names included on Bleacher Report’s list are oddities. Most notably Danny Green (15th) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (14th).
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Both Andy Bailey and Dan Favale, who compiled the list for B/R, are highly respectable analysts who know a great deal about basketball. This is by no means meant to discredit them, nor is this article meant to discredit Green and Hardaway — two talented individuals who fill their roles quite well.
This is simply a modest defense of Richardson, who despite his share of ups and downs this season, continues to provide immense value on the perimeter. He’s consistently underrated at this point — a key cog in a rotation that suffers greatly in his absence.
Richardson is averaging 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on 42.9 percent shooting this season. His numbers have dipped across the board in comparison to last season, and his role has shrunk sizably in the shadows of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris.
Despite his middling efficiency, Richardson’s value as a playmaker and shot creator cannot go understated. He’s a slithery mid-range scorer who can weave in and out of screens and use subtle hesitations to create space. His in-between game is vital to a Sixers rotation that can struggle to generate looks in the halfcourt.
Whether it’s DHOs with Embiid or simply attacking closeouts from the perimeter, Richardson’s ability to get dribble penetration — and either score or pass effectively off of that penetration — is a necessity to the Sixers offense. Even if he’s not the sharpest decision-maker, he fits nicely in the role of secondary creator.
The Sixers have struggled to remedy Richardson’s absence at multiple junctures this season. While expanded roles for Shake Milton and Alec Burks could help mitigate those issues, Richardson is still the most talented two-guard on the roster by a wide margin.
Beyond his value on offense, Richardson remains a stellar defender on the perimeter. He built his reputation on defense in Miami, and he has transferred his impeccable instincts to the Sixers’ starting five.
Next to two all-world defenders in Embiid and Simmons, it’s easy to overlook Richardson’s contributions. But his length, timing, and versatility gives Philadelphia arguably the best one-two defensive punch in basketball on the perimeter. Both Simmons and Richardson can smother ball-handlers at the point of attack, which is only aided by Embiid’s vast presence in the paint.
Both Danny Green and Tim Hardaway are fine players, and the latter is experiencing a career year in Dallas. But Green is a very limited offensive weapon. He can bury 3-pointers at a high clip, but when tailed by quality defenders, he struggles to contribute elsewhere. We saw him crumble at times last postseason. Hardaway, while a more prominent threat from deep, lacks Richardson’s playmaking chops — not to mention defense, where Richardson is miles ahead.
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Bleacher Report’s list is wholly fair and it’s not unjust to leave Richardson off when viewed through the lens of this season alone. However, as someone who holds a great appreciation for the little things Richardson brings to the floor — energy, hustle, unselfishness — I find myself compelled to advocate for his inclusion.