Former Celtics guard retirement: Was he Heat's best pick?
Josh Richardson's former Celtics guard retirement after 10 NBA seasons places him among the Miami Heat's best-ever second-round draft values. Drafted 40th overall in 2015, the 32-year-old outproduced first-round pick Justise Winslow and stepped away from the league on his own terms this week.
Richardson announced the end of his pro career on social media, closing a productive decade that included two Heat stints and stops with five other franchises. For more NBA and sports streaming coverage, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Key Takeaways
- The former Celtics guard retirement ends a 10-year NBA career at age 32.
- Miami selected Richardson No. 40 in 2015; Sun Sentinel columnist Ira Winderman ranks him among the Heat's top second-round values.
- He played for six teams: the Heat, Celtics, 76ers, Spurs, Mavericks and Pelicans.
- He appeared in only eight games in 2024-25, did not play in the NBA this past season, then briefly suited up in Spain.
- Richardson said he left with "no regret," crediting daily work from high school through the pros.
Why did Josh Richardson retire from the NBA now?
According to reporting on his career close, Richardson's market dried up after injury struggles in his second Heat stint. He played just eight games for Miami in 2024-25 and did not appear in the NBA this past season.
MassLive noted a short stint with Basket Zaragoza in Spain earlier this year before he walked away. Winderman wrote that Richardson long had interests outside basketball, including music, and could choose to step away on his own terms.
Was Richardson the Heat's best-ever second-round pick?
In his Ask Ira column for the Sun Sentinel, Winderman said there is no question Richardson had the better career than Justise Winslow, Miami's No. 10 pick in the same 2015 draft. Winslow's limited outside shooting ultimately ended his NBA tenure.
On Heat second-round value, Winderman put Richardson "right up there" with Grant Long (No. 33, 1988), Sherman Douglas (No. 28, 1989), Matt Geiger (No. 42, 1992), Rasual Butler (No. 53, 2002), Mario Chalmers (No. 34, 2008), Patrick Beverley (No. 42, 2009) and Pelle Larsson (No. 44, 2024).
How did Richardson fare with the Celtics and 76ers?
Boston acquired Richardson from Dallas in July 2021 for Moses Brown. In 44 games off the bench in 2021-22, he averaged 9.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists before being included in the Derrick White trade at the 2022 deadline.
In Philadelphia's 2019-20 season, he was a glue guy alongside Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Al Horford and Tobias Harris. That team went 43-30 and was swept by Boston in the first round; 76ers fans recall him as a reliable perimeter player and defensive disruptor under Brett Brown.
What did Richardson say about walking away?
"I always gave my best, that's why I can say this with no regret," Richardson wrote. He thanked fans, coaches and teammates and signed off, "Love, JRICH. (Yes this is a retirement post.)"
He spent most of his NBA years with Miami (2015-19 and 2023-25) and leaves as a second-round success story whose former Celtics guard retirement closes a full decade in the league.