The Orlando Magic’s selection of Jase Richardson represents a special moment for the franchise, and Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman explained in detail why the Michigan State guard fits their long-term vision and how they were captivated by his overall game.
‘He’s a Fighter’ — How Orlando Sees Jase Richardson’s Skills On The Hardwood As An Asset To Develop
By adding Richardson, Orlando acquired someone who has firsthand appreciation for the Magic’s championship aspirations, along with the skills that could enhance the team for years to come. Weltman spoke extensively about why the organization was determined to select him.
“The interesting thing about Jase is for a guy who really carried a huge part of their offense and had to generate shots for himself and for others, [he made] next to no mistakes,” Weltman said in interviews following the draft.
“The guy is a very easy ball-mover, he’s a quick decision-maker, he’s got a crafty way to finish around the rim…being lefty helps him a little bit, probably…and he just really loves basketball.”
During his lone season at Michigan State, the 6-foot-1 guard served as a vital component of the Spartans’ success, helping them capture the Big Ten championship and secure a high seed in the NCAA Men’s Tournament.
Their postseason run concluded in the Elite Eight, but Richardson’s high basketball IQ, ability to create scoring opportunities for himself, and his exceptional three-point shooting (averaging 41.2% from beyond the arc during his freshman campaign) combined with his tenacity as a rebounder and defender proved highly attractive to the Magic organization.
“You don’t play for Tom Izzo if you don’t rebound and defend, so he’s a fighter,” Weltman stated. “All of those things rolled in [together] and that’s why we’re excited about him.” An additional advantage is that the guard’s father is former NBA veteran Jason Richardson, who played in the league for 13 seasons, including two campaigns with Orlando from 2010-2012.
During a press conference following the first night of the draft, Weltman addressed the media about Richardson alongside Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley.
“We had actually brought Jase in to look at him for the 16th pick,” the executive revealed. “Obviously, you don’t know how these things are going to go…we were hoping that he could get into our range, and so, here we are.”
President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and Head Coach Jamahl Mosley speak with the media after drafting Jase Richardson 👇 pic.twitter.com/9OnEieRcAR
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) June 26, 2025
Weltman further explained their decision-making process: “We had a lot of discussions about that, the timeline and is this the time to pick a developmental player? We didn’t want to sacrifice a quality player, a quality person just to put somebody on the court. We felt that Jase was the intersection of all those things.”
Richardson will join a revamped Magic roster that has recently added 3-and-D specialist Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies via trade. While star power forward Paolo Banchero is expected to remain a key offensive cornerstone, Richardson could develop quickly to address several needs the team faces now that Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are no longer on the roster.
This is particularly important regarding three-point shooting off the bench, as the Magic ranked last in the league in that category during the previous season.
