Michigan State basketball is on the brink of its 22nd first-round NBA draft selection. Freshman sensation Jase Richardson will be hoping to hear his name called early in June's NBA Draft.
Richardson's projections have been all over the table, from the lottery to the late first round. It's tough to really predict where Jase will end up, but one thing is for sure: he's got the opportunity to add his name to a very historic list of first-round draft picks.
The lottery first began during the 1985 NBA Draft, and since then, Michigan State has had seven players selected within it. Richardson can make it eight.
So if it does happen, who are the names he would be joining?
Let's take a closer look at those players.
Steve Smith (1991)
The first Spartan ever selected in the lottery, was Spartan legend Steve Smith. He was the fifth overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft. The Miami Heat picked him, and he eventual became a staple in the NBA. During his NBA career that spanned from 1991-2005, Smith won an NBA title (Spurs, 2003), was named an All-Star (1998), and won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA (2000).
Not to mention he finished his NBA career with 13,430 points, 3,060, rebounds and 2,922 assists. After his retirement from the league in 2005, Smith has gone on to have a terrific broadcasting career, covering both the NBA and the NCAA Tournament.
Shawn Respert (1995)
Michigan State's all-time leading scorer heard his name called with the eighth overall pick during the 1995 NBA Draft. He was picked by the Portland Trail Blazers but was quickly traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. That quickly defined Shawn's NBA career as he bounced around in his four seasons in the league. Despite being a high choice, Respert never really took off at the pro level.
Respert finished his NBA career with just 851 points.
After his NBA career didn't pan out, Respert went abroad where he played four more professional seasons. After his playing days were over Shawn spent a over a decade working within multiple organizations throughout the NBA.
Mateen Cleaves (2000)
Mateen Cleaves the true defintion of a Spartan and point guard. After helping lead Tom Izzo's Spartans to the 2000 National Championship, Cleaves heard his name called with the 14th overall pick by the home state Detroit Pistons. His Pistons stint didn't last long as he was traded to Sacramento during his second season. From there, Cleaves' NBA career fizzled out as injuries caught up to him.
Just 167 games over six seasons were all that Cleaves spent in the NBA. Legal trouble cost Cleaves a gig in TV, but the leader of the 'Flintstones' still cares deeply about his alma mater.
Jason Richardson (2001)
Sure, Jase Richarson is on the brink of becoming the next Spartan drafted. But long before he wore the green and white, his dad Jason was making the Richardson name famous at Michigan State.
Jason was a superstar in the making. After two seasons in East Lansing, Richardson heard his name called with the fifth overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors.
The elder Richardson rocked the No. 23 proudly for Golden State for the first six of his 15-year NBA career. He called it a career in 2015 but not before winning the NBA Dunk Contest back-to-back years (2002, 2003). He will be remembered as one of the NBA's best dunkers, up there with the likes of Vince Carter, Michael Jordan, and Julius Erving. Now he has had the privilege of watching his son wear the green and white and become the next father-son duo to have played in the NBA.
Denzel Valentine (2016)
Denzel Valentine was simply a gifted college player at Michigan State. From his triple-doubles to his ability to make miracle shots. Valentine had a phenomenal college career. After a historic four-year career, Denzel heard his name called with the 14th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He landed with the Chicago Bulls as a pick that looked like was going to be a perfect fit.
Four seasons in Chicago weren't enough to keep Valentine around as his knees weren't keeping up with the pace of the NBA. He spent one more season in the NBA with Cleveland and Utah, only playing in 24 games before having to bounce around the G-League. Despite hitching on with the Celtics' organization, it wasn't enough and Denzel had to try his hand around the globe.
From there, he spent a season playing for the Sydney Kings in the NBL before making the trek to Italy. After a season with Olimpia Milano, Valentine has since made his home with Pallacanestro Trieste in the top league in Italy.
Jaren Jackson Jr. (2018)
Jaren Jackson Jr. was a one-and-done wonder for Michigan State during the 2017-18 season. As he not only finished as the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year but he also won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. That led him to becoming the fourth overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Jackson has now spent seven years in the NBA, all with Memphis.
Since his major leg injury during the 2020-21 season, Jackson has only gotten better and better, starting every game, he has played in since that season.
Not to mention he has been name an All-Star twice (2023, 2025) and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2023. Jaren continues to prove he's one of the best defensive players in the NBA. He's still got plenty more games to play ahead of him.
Miles Bridges (2018)
Miles Bridges also joined Jackson in the lottery in 2018. Bridges was picked 12th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, only to be traded to the Charlotte Hornets.
Bridges has been a Hornet for six seasons. It would be seven if he didn't miss a whole season because of his legal trouble. Since getting back on the floor, Bridges has made himself a key piece for the Hornets. He's averaged 20 points per game in each of his last three seasons.
He also scored a career high 46 points this past season.
Special no matter where he lands
These are just the guys who have been selected in the lottery. Just look back further and their have been plenty of other historic first-round picks from Michigan State basketball. Magic Johnson, for one, was the No. 1 overall pick in 1979.
In today's NBA, you never know where a player will be picked, but whenever Jase hears his name, he's joining a great legacy of Spartans who have made it to the NBA.