Jason Richardson hopes to suit up for the Sixers at some point this season

Not the biggest news in the league's landscape, but it's nice to be reminded that Jason Richardson, who used to be one of the league's most athletic players, is still, um, on the Sixers and trying to play some basketball.

Check out the original article. which ran on Philly.com, here.
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Do you remember the 2003 NBA Dunk Contest? The one where the victor threw down such a clean off-the-bounce, through-the-legs, reverse dunk to take home the title that even Michael Jordan had to smile at it (although he tried his best not to look too impressed)?

Well, in case you forgot, that victor was Jason Richardson, and he is still a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, also, in case you forgot.

Richardson hasn’t played a single second for the Sixers this season while he has been working his way back from injuries that come with age (knee surgery), but that doesn’t mean he isn’t planning on playing.

Before Wednesday’s win against the Bobcats, Richardson told Tom Moore of The Intelligencer that he hopes to begin running in “about a week,” and that there’s a “good chance” that he will play this season, although he didn’t know when.

Regardless of is he plays or not, Richardson’s statement is a nice reminder that he is still on the Sixers squad, and getting paid $6 million for his ‘services’ this season.

Really though, Richardson has been an above-average NBA player for quite some time, and he has been a solid presence on the Sixers’ sideline.

Richardson isn’t looking quite as slender as he was when he was the league’s back-to-back Slam Dunk champion, and it may take some time for him to get into game shape. But, once he’s ready, the team should let him hit the hardwood. If he plays decently at all maybe the team could trade him his contract away in some sort of package this summer, and if he plays poorly, which is plausible for an aging and currently overweight J-Rich, then he will simply contribute to the team’s tanking.