Jase Richardson was the sole Michigan State Spartan selected in the 2025 Draft. The 6-foot-3 freshman guard was drafted by the Orlando Magic, his father Jason’s former team.
Richardson was an obvious Draft selection: he averaged 25.3 minutes last season with 12.1 points per game, and shot 83.6% on free throws. But going at No. 25 overall was a bit of a slide for the guard, who was previously considered a lottery pick, according to Spartan Avenue’s Connor Muldowney.
As for other league-eligible Spartans, things were quiet after the draft.
“It was assumed that Jaden Akins would be fielding phone calls left and right as an undrafted free agent,” Muldowney wrote. “But he had gone nearly an entire week before his new NBA home became official.”
Richardson and Akins will play alongside each other once again, according to the Magic’s Summer League roster, announced July 3. Orlando also added a third former Spartan in forward Marcus Bingham Jr., who spent last season with Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in the EuroLeague.
Both Akins and Bingham Jr. will be gunning for a two-way contract, or at least a G League deal. Already under contract, Richardson will be leading the pack.
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Bingham Jr., 24, was with the Spartans from 2018-2022. The forward’s senior season was Akins’ freshman year. The 19-year-old Richardson and 22-year-old Akins played together last season at Michigan State, during the guards’ freshman and junior years, respectively.
“It's going to be cool to see Richardson and Akins teaming back up,” Muldowney wrote. “The fact that they have so much chemistry and are comfortable in the same backcourt is only going to help them.”
Richardson spoke with the media Monday in Las Vegas after practice.
“It’s amazing. Still doesn’t feel real,” Richardson said. “I think once we start our first Summer League games it’ll start feeling real.”
NBA Summer League play begins Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. The Orlando Magic play their first game against Sacramento Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET, streaming on ESPN+ and NBA TV.