In a tied contest between the Reno Bighorns and the Texas Legends, three seconds remained. Malachi Richardson has often looked forward to taking on these kinds of scenarios – having the ball in his hands with the game on the line.

So when the time came to resume play, there was little doubt who would receive the ball on the inbound.

Two defenders forced the Syracuse product to take a contested, deep, two-point attempt. But the strong defensive effort was outmatched by No. 5’s smooth shooting stroke, which clinched the game as the horn sounded.

“The great players take those type of shots and one day I want to be one of those players, so I decided to take it,” Richardson said of his late-game heroics that sealed a 110-108 W for the Bighorns.

On assignment with Reno for four games, Richardson has averaged tallies of 24 points, 10 free-throw attempts and four rebounds per outing. He sits among the D-League’s leaders in points and free throws, showcasing an aggressive style of play he’s always carried.

“I’ve always had it,” the first-year guard said of his killer instinct. “(Bighorns Coach Darrick Martin) told me to drive the ball and be aggressive. Getting to the line is something I wanted to do, so I made it a point to do so.”

As he continues to transition between the NBA and the D-League, Richardson anticipates more growth in his overall game. To date, he’s received plenty of positive feedback from the Kings.

“I kept it contact with everyone and they said to let them know if I need anything and that I should just keep playing strong basketball,” Richardson said.

Alongside fellow rookies Skal Labissiére and Georgios Papagiannis, the product out of Syracuse was recently re-assigned back to the Bighorns. With big plays like his game-winner against the Legends turning heads, Richardson’s progress will continue to be a must-watch for many as the season marches forward.



