Every player in the NBA has a start. They have that starting place that really helps him develop into a legitimate rotation player in the league and they use that development for future endeavors. For Philadelphia 76ers guard Josh Richardson, that place was the Miami Heat who took a chance on Richardson in the second round of the NBA Draft in 2015.

Richardson spent four seasons in Miami and he went from second-round project to NBA starter. He averaged 12.1 points and 2.9 assists in the four seasons with the Heat and he gives the organization a lot of credit for who he is as a player.

“A lot,” he said at practice on Tuesday. “Just giving me confidence, giving me an opportunity to play early, and working with me every day. Chris Quinn, he and I worked very closely from my time there and I still keep in contact with him. I consider him a friend outside of basketball but working at it every day. He encouraged me to shoot threes off the dribble my last year there so that’s another part of my game that I can bring.”

What exactly did the Heat do specifically to get him ready for the NBA level? They just put him through a grueling conditioning test before training camp even begins to make sure he’s in shape to handle the season. That’s huge for any NBA player to get through a long 82 games plus the playoffs.

“They call it ‘world class conditioning’,” he added. “When you get to camp, they expect you at a certain bodyweight, a certain conditioning level, because from day one, you’re hitting the ground running. They have a conditioning test down there that’s not easy so it’s your first introduction to training camp, honestly, because it’s like a week before.”

With his second game coming up against his former team, Richardson says it still is just another game, but with a little something extra. He still has close relationships with the Heat.

“It’s still just another game, but as a competitor, it’s fun to play against the guys you used to play with,” he said with a smile. “It kind of felt like I was in high school again playing against my friends from the rival high school. Once I got it going, I just started feeling it even more.”

Richardson scored 32 points against the Heat in their first matchup on November 23 so he’ll look to keep that going. He and the Sixers will host Jimmy Butler and the Heat at 7:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday.