There's been a lot of talk about the Michigan State basketball culture in recent years, especially with the nightmare 2023-24 season taking place. But Tom Izzo made it a point of emphasis to keep the culture family-like, even if that meant taking some hits in the win/loss column.
Fortunately, his mindset paid off as he kept a tight-knit group together for the 2024-25 season when many fans were hoping for larger portal splashes than Frankie Fidler and Szymon Zapala.
That culture has led to countless former players coming back to visit the program and others who have signed massive NBA deals (Draymond) to give back to Michigan State. One of those former players happens to be the most recent to head to the NBA and he wasted no time returning to East Lansing to visit his former coach and teammates.
Jase Richardson decided to stop in East Lansing, which he calls "home", following the Summer League title game on Sunday night (he wasn't playing in it, but that was the final Summer League game). He wasted no time returning home.
Familiar face at practice today 💚 💚 pic.twitter.com/pBXARX3Y1J
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) July 21, 2025
It's moments like these when you realize just how great Izzo is for the culture. He has built a program that preaches "family" and off-court relationships and it pays off with first-round picks coming back just days after his team wrapped up NBA Summer League action to spend time with the team.
As a young player, this has to be an inspiring situation. Jase could be anywhere in the country right now after signing a four-year, $15 million contract with the Magic, but he opted to return "home".
If this doesn't prove that Michigan State basketball has one of the best cultures in America, I don't know what will.