Pooh Richardson facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 14, 1966 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| High school | Benjamin Franklin (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | UCLA (1985–1989) |
| NBA Draft | 1989 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall |
| Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| Pro career | 1989–2000 |
| Coaching career | 2017–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1989–1992 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 1992–1994 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1994–1999 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 1999–2000 | Adecco Milano |
| As coach: | |
| 2017–present | College of the Desert CC (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 7,083 (11.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,807 (2.8 rpg) |
| Assists | 4,180 (6.5 apg) |
Jerome "Pooh" Richardson Jr. (born May 14, 1966) is a former American basketball player. He played for 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Pooh was the very first player picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1989 NBA draft. He also played for the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers.
Before joining the NBA, Richardson played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. He played there from 1985 to 1989. He was chosen as a top player in his conference three times. He also set new records at UCLA for total assists and three-point field goal percentage.
His grandmother gave him the nickname "Pooh." She thought he looked like the character Winnie the Pooh.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Richardson grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He started playing basketball in the local Sonny Hill League. In high school, he was a McDonald's All-American player. This means he was one of the best high school players in the country.
He played for Ben Franklin High School. In 1984, he led his team to win the Public League championship. Many people in Philadelphia thought he was a basketball legend even then.
College Basketball Career
Richardson went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He was a starting player for the Bruins for all four years, from 1985 to 1989.
Freshman Year Success
In his first year (1985–86), he was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. He was also chosen as his team's most valuable freshman. Plus, he was recognized as an outstanding defensive player.
Continued Achievements
The next season (1986–87), he was named first-team All-Pac-10. This meant he was one of the best players in the Pac-10 conference. In his junior year (1987–88), he was named the team's most valuable player (MVP).
Senior Year and Records
In his senior year (1988–89), Richardson was the team's MVP again. He was also first-team All-Pac-10 for the third year in a row. For the second time, he was named the Bruins' outstanding defensive player.
Richardson finished his college career with impressive UCLA records. He had the most assists in a career (833). He also had the most assists in a single season (236). He set a record for the highest career three-point field goal percentage (46.4%).
Professional Playing Career
Richardson was a point guard who stood 6 feet, 1 inch tall. The Minnesota Timberwolves picked him tenth overall in the 1989 NBA draft. He was their very first draft pick ever. He played for the Timberwolves for their first three seasons.
Moving to Other Teams
In 1992, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers. He played there for two seasons. In 1994, the Pacers traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers. He played for the Clippers until 1998.
Playing Overseas
After his NBA career, Richardson played basketball in Milan, Italy. He played there at the request of Joe Bryant and his son, Kobe Bryant. They were part-owners of the team in Milan.
Coaching Career
After his playing days, Richardson became a coach for Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) teams. He coached in Coachella Valley, California. In 2017, he became an assistant coach at the College of the Desert.
See also
In Spanish: Pooh Richardson para niños
