With the 2025 NBA Draft just days away, Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson finds himself at the center of heated debate about his professional readiness. Despite averaging 12.1 points and shooting 41.2% from three-point range during his standout season, an anonymous college coach has raised serious concerns about the son of former NBA star Jason Richardson.
Senior sports journalist David Aldridge, who has covered the NBA on the ground for over 30 years, reports the inside scoop on this year’s top prospects from “two dozen coaches, NBA executives, scouts, and other personnel types.”
Jase Richardson Faces Questions Despite Strong College Performance
Aldridge asserts that “in exchange for anonymity, they tell me the truth, both good and bad, about what they actually think about the players,” in the latest issue of The Athletic. One college assistant coach whose team faced Michigan State during the season didn’t hold back in his assessment of the 19-year-old Richardson’s NBA prospects.
“I don’t think he’s quite ready,” the coach stated bluntly. “It’s one of those cases where he had too good of a year to go back. Strike while the iron’s hot. But he’s not ready for the NBA.”
The coach’s concerns extend beyond Richardson’s current skill level. “He’s going to spend 95 percent of his time next season in the G League. He just doesn’t know how to play,” the anonymous coach explained. Despite his harsh assessment, the coach emphasized his respect for Richardson and his family, noting, “And I love the kid. We recruited him. Know his dad. The mom’s awesome. They’re great people.”
Richardson burst onto the college basketball scene at Michigan State University. He earned Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors and was named Third-Team All-Conference while helping the Spartans win the Big Ten Championship and reach the Elite Eight.
After securing a permanent starting spot in February, Richardson’s production soared. He averaged 16.9 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 52.5% from the field over the season’s final stretch.
Jase Richardson is 6’1″ but he’s maybe the most versatile scorer in the draft. Volume was low & Jase’s Role was limited throughout the year but he consistently & efficiently got a bucket on all 3 levels.
In his last 15 games of the season he averaged 16 PPG and posted a 61% TS pic.twitter.com/89GU3xpQWl
— gly. (@Guccilvl10) June 13, 2025
Physical measurements raised eyebrows at the NBA Combine when Richardson recorded a height of 6 feet 0.5 inches without shoes, significantly shorter than his listed 6-foot-3 at Michigan State.
The coach’s evaluation highlighted specific weaknesses in Richardson’s game. “The best thing he does is make hard shots. He got better as a catch-and-shoot guy, but he shoots hard shots off the bounce. He’s not a great athlete,” the coach observed.
Despite the criticism, Richardson remains a projected first-round pick. According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Richardson is slated as the No. 16 pick to Memphis, while other mock drafts project him to go in the low-to-mid 20s. The son of two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Jason Richardson, Jase carries high family expectations into the professional ranks.
The coach concluded his assessment with a sobering prediction: “It’s going to take another year or two before he can help a team, even the bad ones.” As draft night approaches on June 25-26, Richardson’s journey from Big Ten standout to professional player remains uncertain, highlighting the challenging transition many college stars face at the next level.
