Thirteen seasons Richardson played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic throughout a 13-year career. In 2005, he won the NBA Three-Point Contest. He made history by becoming only the second player after Michael Jordan to win back-to-back Three-Point Contests (Michael Jordan was the first). Richardson also won the Three-Point Contest in 2001. After graduating from high school in 1990, Richardson attended Texas Southern University where he played college basketball. He turned down offers from several colleges to stay in Houston so he could play closer to home. After one season at Texas Southern, he entered the 1997 NBA Draft where he was selected ninth overall by the Clippers. During his rookie season, Richardson started at shooting guard but soon moved to small forward when Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway was acquired in a trade deadline deal with the Phoenix Suns. He averaged 7.9 points and 2.8 rebounds over 70 games that year. The following season, he improved to 12.1 points and 3.0 assists per game. In 1999, the Clippers acquired Sam Cassell from the Boston Celtics; Richardson decided to move back to small forward this time. He averaged 14.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game that year.