The Rock — six-time All-Star and one of the most underrated elite scorers in NBA history.
Mitchell James Richmond was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1965 and attended Kansas State University. Golden State Warriors selected him fifth overall in the 1988 NBA Draft. His 14-season career produced 21.0 points per game, six All-Star appearances and the Rookie of the Year award in 1989. He was traded from Golden State to Sacramento as part of the deal for Billy Owens — one of the more questioned trades of the era. He spent seven seasons as the Kings' primary offensive player, consistently averaging 22 or more points per game on teams that could not reach the playoffs. He was selected to six All-Star games, reflecting genuine league-wide recognition of his quality even when his team's results did not reflect it. He won Olympic gold with the USA in 1996 and at the 2000 World Championships. He won an NBA championship as a reserve with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. His nickname The Rock reflected the absolute reliability of his scoring — on every team he played for, in every season he was healthy, he produced consistent 20-plus point averages. He remains the most celebrated player in Sacramento Kings franchise history.
Explosive scoring guard, member of Run TMC trio
How They Played
Pure scorer with excellent mid-range game and three-point shooting
Lasting Impact
Hall of Fame shooting guard known for clutch scoring and smooth jump shot
NBA Champion (2002)
Career Honours
- NBA Champion (2002)
- All-Star 6x
- Rookie of the Year (1989)
- Olympic Gold Medal 2x
- Hall of Fame (2014)