Nick Richards

Richards is a Jamaican center who has built an NBA career as a rim protector and lob finisher after a decorated college career at Kentucky. Drafted in the second round in 2020, he has spent multiple seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, gradually increasing his role as a rotation big.

Born Nicholas Richards on November 29, 1997, in Kingston, Jamaica, he attended Jamaica College and competed in football, volleyball, and track and field before being discovered by New York-based scout Andre Ricketts at a basketball camp in 2013. Ricketts brought him to the United States, where he attended St. Mary's High School in Manhasset, New York, and later transferred to The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey. He was ranked a five-star recruit by ESPN and committed to Kentucky in November 2016.

At Kentucky, Richards averaged 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds as a freshman and 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds as a sophomore. He declared for the 2019 NBA draft but returned to Kentucky. As a junior, he averaged 14.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks and was named to the First Team All-SEC. He scored a career-high 27 points against Mississippi State on February 4, 2020. After the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA draft.

The New Orleans Pelicans selected Richards with the 42nd overall pick and immediately traded him to the Charlotte Hornets. He signed his rookie contract on November 30, 2020, and spent time with the Greensboro Swarm in the G League. In the 2022-23 season, he scored a career-high 20 points against the Atlanta Hawks on October 23, 2022, and signed a three-year, $15 million contract extension on March 22, 2023.

Richards is a traditional center with size, shot-blocking timing, and finishing ability around the rim. He scores primarily on lobs, putbacks, and rolls to the basket. His defensive presence and rebounding have made him a reliable backup center, though his offensive game remains limited to the paint. He continues to develop his physicality and positioning at the NBA level.