Yardbarker
x
Magic's Jase Richardson is dunking in his father's footsteps
Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson (11) dribbles during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Kia Center. Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Magic's Jase Richardson is dunking in his father's footsteps

Twenty-four years ago, Jason Richardson won his first Slam Dunk Contest. At All-Star Saturday, his son will be dunking in his father's footsteps.

Rookie Jase Richardson of the Orlando Magic leads a field of four dunkers that includes Jaxson Hayes of the Los Angeles Lakers, Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat and fellow rookie Carter Bryant of the San Antonio Spurs. Richardson is the shortest participant in the contest, but that's not always a disadvantage.

Jase Richardson is the NBA's second 'second-generation' dunker

Richardson is the second son of a dunk champion to try his hand at the contest himself. In 2018, Larry Nance, Jr. was in the contest, 34 years after his father, Larry Nance, Sr., won the NBA's first All-Star Weekend dunk contest, defeating Dominique Wilkins in the final. Nance made it to the final but lost to Donovan Mitchell in the last round.

Jason Richardson of the Golden State Warriors won the dunk contest in his first two NBA seasons, 2002 and 2003, falling to Fred Jones in a disappointing last round where both players missed their final attempts. Still, only Nate Robinson and Mac McClung, who is skipping this year's event after three straight wins, have won more dunk titles than J-Rich.

There simply aren't that many sons of NBA players at all, much less sons of dunk contest participants. Cole Anthony and 1996 champion Brent Barry had NBA dads, but those dads were never in the dunk contest. Kenyon Martin was a great in-game dunker, but only Kenyon Martin, Jr. did the dunk contest. Glenn Robinson dunked more often than his son (197 times in 526 games to 88 dunks in 304 games), but Glenn Robinson III was the one to win a dunk contest in 2017.

Jase Richardson has rarely dunked in his rookie season

While Richardson clearly inherited some of his father's basketball talent, he didn't inherit all his height. The elder Richardson is 6-foot-6; his son is only 6-foot-1. That may be why he's dunked just four times in 36 games during his rookie season.

But Richardson showed off some dunking skills in college, donning his father's old jersey during Michigan State's preseason dunk contest to pull off an impressive 360.

After all, a smaller player's dunks often look more impressive than those from a taller player, perhaps because a seven-footer like Hayes barely has to jump to dunk the ball. That's one reason 5-foot-7 Spud Webb took home the trophy in 1986.

Richardson has a chance to make history for himself and his family on Feb. 14. The NBA will learn if spectacular dunks really do run in the family — even if Richardson himself seems nonchalant about the possibility.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!