If you ever watched an NBA game in the early ’80s, you recognized him before the broadcaster even mentioned his name. Micheal “Sugar” Ray Richardson- yes, spelled Micheal, though many outlets still use Michael- was the smooth 6’5″ guard who played as if the game lived in his very blood. He led the league in steals three times, assists once, made four All-Star teams, and had Manhattan eating out of his palm.

But Sugar’s story goes beyond dazzling crossovers or no-look passes. His prime coincided with the NBA’s cocaine crisis and the league’s new zero-tolerance drug policy. He went from a Madison Square Garden hero to the first active player ever banned for life. Then, in one of those real-life plot twists that save those who refuse to be defeated, he rebuilt his basketball career overseas and later returned home as a championship coach and mentor.

Recently, the basketball world lost him, and the tributes make one thing clear: Sugar Ray Richardson was never just a headline. He was an entire era.

Who Is Michael Ray Richardson’s Wife and Family?

In his later years, Richardson lived a quieter, grounded life in Lawton, Oklahoma, with his wife, Kimberly Richardson. She was present at their home when he passed, according to multiple reports from the Associated Press. The two were known locally not just as former pro and wife but as partners in real community involvement.

Richardson was survived by several children, including his son Amir (Michael Amir) Richardson, who is now a professional soccer player, signed with ACF Fiorentina, and represents Morocco internationally.

It’s one of those poetic full-circle moments—seeing a father whose life was defined by both greatness and its consequences, and a son forging his own path in the world of global sports.

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Richardson and Kimberly were also known for their support of youth programs in Lawton, where they mentored young Black men and even owned a local beauty salon.

The man who once dominated Madison Square Garden highlight reels ended his life doing something just as remarkable: showing up for people in real life.

What Happened to Michael Ray Richardson? Cause of Death Explained

Richardson passed away on November 11, 2025, at age 70, in the same Lawton home he shared with Kimberly. His death was due to prostate cancer, confirmed to the Associated Press by his longtime friend and attorney, John Zelbst.

The news was first reported by Andscape before being picked up by major outlets. Fans, former teammates, overseas clubs, and players he coached shared tributes, many saying the same thing in different ways:

He was flawed. He was brilliant. He survived things that break most people. And he gave back.

A Look Back at Michael Ray Richardson’s NBA Career

Richardson was born on April 11, 1955, in Lubbock, Texas, and was raised in tough circumstances. He sharpened his game at the University of Montana. There, he became a three-time All-Big Sky selection and the kind of player scouts described as “natural rhythm.”

The New York Knicks drafted him No. 4 overall in 1978, two picks ahead of Larry Bird. The New York media, famously subtle and patient, of course, immediately started calling him the next Walt Frazier. And here’s the thing: for stretches, he was.

In the 1979–80 season, he led the entire NBA in both assists (10.1) and steals (3.2), a statistical feat very few guards in history have matched.

After time with the Knicks and Warriors, Richardson landed with the New Jersey Nets, where he delivered his most iconic moment, steering the Nets past the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers in the 1984 playoffs.

That win was the franchise’s first playoff series victory since joining the NBA.

In 1984–85, he posted: 20.1 points, 8.2 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 3.0 steals per game…on his way to winning NBA Comeback Player of the Year.

Sugar wasn’t just talented. He was magnetic.

Why Was Michael Ray Richardson Banned from the NBA?

This is the part that’s been retold countless times- some accurately, others with sensationalism. Here’s the clean, factual version: The NBA adopted a new anti-drug policy on January 1, 1984. Richardson tested positive for cocaine multiple times. On February 25, 1986, Commissioner David Stern issued a lifetime ban, making Richardson the first active NBA player to receive such a penalty.

The league wasn’t just punishing individuals; it was attempting to prove it could police itself. Sugar, already battling addiction, became a symbol of the era. But here’s what people often overlook: In 1988, after demonstrating recovery and compliance, the NBA reinstated him.

Instead, he went to Europe, where he played for years, became a fan favorite, won titles, and later transitioned into coaching roles, including championship runs with the Oklahoma/Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry and London Lightning.

He never returned to the NBA. But he never truly disappeared. He kept living.

What Was Michael Ray Richardson’s Net Worth at the Time of His Death?

There is no verified, credible public net worth number, and you will find numerous recycled guesses online.

Here’s what we can accurately say: In the early 80s, he earned top-guard NBA salaries, including deals pushing over $300,000 annually (strong money at the time).

By the mid-1980s, his Nets contract was reported to be around $3 million over several years, still a significant sum relative to the era. He then earned for decades as a star import in Italy and France, and as a championship coach.

A safe, non-speculative range is: low to mid-seven figures over his lifetime earnings and assets. Anything more precise would require probate filings; none have been made public yet.

Michael Ray Richardson was never a simple sports story. He was bright, charismatic, generationally gifted, and human. The NBA tried to save him. The streets tried to swallow him. Basketball, eventually, took him back.

He didn’t bow out quietly. He changed countries, won championships, mentored kids, and built a life that wasn’t defined by what he lost. And maybe that’s the part history finally gets right. Sugar wasn’t a cautionary tale. He was a full story. And now, it’s complete.