22-05-2025
Jase Richardson NBA Mock Draft round-up with three weeks until the withdrawal deadline
Jase Richardson NBA Mock Draft round-up with three weeks until the withdrawal deadline Jase Richardson is firmly projected as first round pick based on our mock draft round-up.
Since the season ended with an Elite 8 loss to Auburn, Michigan State basketball fans have been anxiously awaiting the final decision from Jase Richardson on whether or not he will keep his name in for NBA Draft consideration. While Richardson has spent the last week or so engaging in team meetings and the draft combine, Tom Izzo said back in April that he doesn't think the door is fully closed on Jase coming back for another season with the Spartans.
If that's the case, Jase will have until June 15 to withdraw his name from the draft, and it probably behooves him to use as much of that time as possible to workout for teams and get feedback, as things can change rapidly in the draft process, and we've seen Richardson swing up-and-down in mock drafts since he burst onto the scene as a legitimate NBA prospect early in 2025.
Below, we did a round-up of different mock drafts from various outlets to give a snapshot of where Jase is standing right now with about three weeks left until the withdrawal deadline:
The Athletic
No. 10: Miami Heat
What they said:
Richardson is one of the true breakout risers of this draft class, a player who rarely played on-ball in high school who has flourished this season getting more of those reps for Michigan State. Few players navigate tight spaces quite like Richardson, as he has a Jalen Brunson-like ability to find creases in the defense with his pristine footwork. He averaged 12 points per game this year while shooting 51 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3 and 84 percent from the line. However, it's his play in the last stretch of the season that has made believers out of most evaluators across the NBA. In his last 11 games, Richardson is averaging 17.3 points and shooting 50 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3 and 82 percent from the line while getting there five times per game. He's also getting five rebounds and dishing out 1.7 assists while posting a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio. He's made a believer out of even Tom Izzo, who typically avoids playing freshmen.
So what are the concerns? Richardson is smaller, with scouts wondering if he cracks 6-2 without shoes. He's also not wildly explosive, which is a funny statement to say about the son of dunk contest legend Jason Richardson. Defensively, he's tough and competes in college, but will he be fast enough to hold up in the NBA? All eyes will be on Jase Richardson in the NCAA Tournament. If he leads Michigan State on a deep run, his stock has a chance to skyrocket.
The Ringer
No. 14: San Antonio Spurs
What they said:
Jase didn't inherit his father Jason's dunk-contest-winning explosiveness, but a childhood spent in and around NBA circles has definite advantages. Richardson has a high-level understanding of the game and his place in it—an aptitude that has all but forced longtime Michigan State coach Tom Izzo to play his star freshman in big minutes during the final stretch of the NCAA season even though he's famously youngblood averse. Should he declare, Jase would be only the fifth one-and-done Spartan since 1952.
Richardson's season is a case study in how teams can approach his floor and ceiling. In a lower-usage role to start the year, Jase made the most of his time by working diligently off the ball. He's crisp and decisive in his movement and relocation, with the legitimate deep range and accuracy to apply pressure on the defense in subtle ways. While on the smaller side as a combo guard, his instincts, hand-eye coordination, and motor make him an effective off-ball defender. At the very least, Richardson projects as a no-nonsense two-way role player next to a bigger initiator.
However, as his role expanded in East Lansing, flashes of high-level self-creation became more and more common. Jase has a compact frame that seems destined to add on muscle in the coming years, but he relies on delicate footwork to create leverage against the defense. He also has the lower-body range of motion, as well as the excellent stop-start ability, to create seamless stepbacks and complex dribbling chains. While he doesn't exactly have top-tier vision or creativity as a facilitator, he does show poise and timing running the pick-and-roll. All it takes is one team to see the vision of him as a lead guard—there have been plenty of franchises that have tried to craft point guards from players with lesser shooting and handling talent.
Richardson's lack of size for his position is a clear concern, but the league has gotten better at understanding intrinsic value and is less beholden to familiar shapes and molds. There is a versatility and scalability in Richardson's skill set that presents a high enough floor to bet on.
USA TODAY
No. 12: Chicago Bulls
What they said:
Richardson improved as the season progressed and turned into the Spartans' steady hand with the basketball as a shooter (inside and out) and facilitator. He is an active defender with surprising bouts of athleticism. He also has a knack for collecting rebounds, big plays and poise under pressure. He had an up-and-down NCAA tournament in four games – 5-for-11 shooting and 15 points against Bryant, 1-for-10 shooting against New Mexico, 20 points on 6-for-8 shooting against Ole Miss, and 4-for-13 shooting against Auburn.
USA TODAY (AI Mock Draft)
No. 10: Houston Rockets
Link
ESPN
No. 16: Orlando Magic
What they said:
After back-to-back playoff appearances, Orlando's front office seems intent on helping the team win its first playoff series since 2010, saying it plans to "look through a more win-now lens." That might signal a willingness to part with one or both of the team's first-rounders (the Magic also hold the No. 25 pick) if "proven offensive help" becomes available, a search that will likely continue through the offseason.
Should the Magic keep this pick, drafting a player such as Richardson, who possesses an excellent feel for the game and strong defensive intensity (and hit 41% of his 3-pointers this season), makes sense. His ability to play off the ball alongside two prolific shot-creators in Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero would also be a plus, as Richardson showed with his willingness to play a role at Michigan State, where he demonstrated character and winning qualities. -- Givony
Yahoo! Sports
No. 16: Orlando Magic
What they said:
It would be a gift from the basketball gods if Richardson lands in Orlando's lap at this pick. The Magic ranked 25th in 3-point attempts and last in percentage. It'd be a shocker if the Magic didn't draft someone who can shoot at this spot. And Richardson is one of the best shooters in the class after making 45.7% of his catch-and-shoot 3s at Michigan State. Beyond that, he is a skilled combo guard with a lethal midrange game and a poised pick-and-roll feel, looking like he downloaded the experience of his NBA veteran father, Jason Richardson. Jase didn't inherit his father's height or dunk contest athleticism, though, so his smaller stature could cap his upside.
Bleacher Report
No. 16: Orlando Magic
Scouts admired Jase Richardson's scoring efficiency and decision-making. He managed to produce consistently on low usage, making open threes, picking the right spots to attack and finishing plays with advanced adjustments and instincts at the rim.
But it also became clear that he offers more creativity than the numbers suggest. Richardson was one of the nation's most efficient ball-screen scorers whose self-creation shined more and more as his role increased.
Scouts admired Jase Richardson's scoring efficiency and decision-making. He managed to produce consistently on low usage, making open threes, picking the right spots to attack and finishing plays with advanced adjustments and instincts at the rim.
But it also became clear that he offers more creativity than the numbers suggest. Richardson was one of the nation's most efficient ball-screen scorers whose self-creation shined more and more as his role increased.
Tankathon
Pick No. 15: Oklahoma City Thunder
Link
CBS Sports
No. 20: Miami Heat
What they said:
Richardson would be a fun fit with the Heat. Richardson saw his stock rise throughout the 2024-25 college basketball season. He started in a reserve role at Michigan State and blossomed into the best player on Tom Izzo's squad. Richardson is a great mid-range shooter and was fantastic at finishing around the rim during his lone season in East Lansing.
Game Theory Podcast
No. 28: Boston Celtics
Link
Summary
It seems like the consensus is that, as of right now, Jase Richardson is projected to be drafted somewhere in the 10 to 20 range, with one outlier placing him at No. 28 to the Celtics. In addition to the Celtics, the Heat are the next lowest landing spot at 20. While it might seem like falling to the 20s may be an indicator that Jase could return to MSU, I think those two teams, specifically, would be interesting fits for Jase. As a great off-ball scorer who can defend and play on-ball when needed, Jase is a very adaptable player that could fit into a lot of different NBA situations. I think he might even be able to find some rotation minutes on a good team with his scoring acumen, and I do think an opportunity to play minutes is what he is looking for at the next level if he decides to stick in the draft.
At this time, even with Jase not being projected as a top ten pick, I would expect him to stay in the draft. Sorry to the Spartan fans who are hoping for another outcome. It's not impossible, but I think we should expect him to stay in the draft and be a first round pick.
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