NBA Draft night yielded plenty of emotions for Jase Richardson and his friends and family as they witnessed a dream come true before their eyes.
It was almost surreal (as Jason Richardson called it) to see Jase go in the first round a little over 20 years after his dad was selected in the first round. It was a full circle moment and Tom Izzo was even in attendance at the Richardsons' watch party.
Richardson joins a team that is going to be a legit NBA title contender with one of the best young rosters in the league. He also joins a team that doesn't have a No. 11 yet.
That was good news for his jersey number pick during his rookie year.
Richardson wore No. 11 during his freshman season at Michigan State and it looks like that number is going to carry over into his rookie year with the Magic, the organization announced on Thursday.
Jase Richardson will wear #11 🪄 pic.twitter.com/6Sw31u351T
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) June 26, 2025
Richardson will don No. 11 as a rookie. For any Spartan fans who jumped the gun and customized a Magic jersey on Wednesday night after seeing him get drafted, you got lucky. The No. 11 will carry over and Jase will become the second former Michigan State star to don No. 11 in a Magic uniform.
Not the first Spartan to wear 11 for the @OrlandoMagic pic.twitter.com/yPgA9bjtWn
— SPARTANTIQUES (@SPARTANTIQUES) June 26, 2025
That's a pretty cool tradition to carry on.
Unfortunately for Spartan fans, we won't get to see a Michigan State backcourt connection in Orlando with Jase and Gary Harris as the latter had his option declined this offseason, making him a free agent. Seeing those two on the court at the same time would be a Spartan fan's dream.
Instead, Richardson is going to share the court with multiple Wolverines (Franz Wagner, Mo Wagner, Caleb Houstan, Jett Howard).