The Philadelphia 76ers fanbase is not exactly one that can be called an endearing bunch when it comes to some of the players who previously suited up for the franchise, but that is certainly not the case with Josh Richardson, who was a bright spot for the team when it boasted a funky configuration. Unfortunately, his NBA career has now come to an end after he announced his sudden retirement as a pro.
Richardson did not play in the league at all this past season –– an unfortunate outcome for the veteran after he suited up in just eight outings during his most recent campaign in 2024-2025 with the Miami Heat. He ultimately saw his market dry up completely, and now, he has officially ended a rather productive career that lasted for a full decade.
Former 76ers wing Josh Richardson calls quits on his NBA career
Richardson's fall from grace was largely prompted by his injury struggles during his second stint with the Heat, but before that, he was a consistent role player who had an established role as a stable wing, who can do a lot of things on the floor with his perimeter shot and all-around skill set. Defensively, he was solid as well.
For the 76ers, their memory of the newly retired wing exclusively comes from their infamous 2019-20 season, when they featured a rather unconventional core consisting of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Al Horford, Tobias Harris, and Richardson. That team finished the pandemic-afflicted campaign with a 43-30 win-loss card and got swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.
None of the team's lack of success from that season can be tacked to Richardson, though. Despite the clunky starting unit the 76ers deployed, he was some sort of glue guy that kept it all together. He was the most reliable perimeter operator on the squad, and Brett Brown, who was still at the helm at that time, especially liked him as his resident disruptor on the defensive end.
76ers fans will most likely look at Josh Richardson as someone who stabilized the team through a weird time in the franchise. While he spent only a single season with the team, his contributions will not be forgotten, and now, he can rest assured that at least one franchise will be especially appreciative of his time as a pro in the NBA.
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