NBA: Each team’s greatest comeback from injury in franchise history

Greatest injury comeback in Sacramento Kings history: Mitch Richmond

Broken right thumb

Mitch Richmond is another one of those All-Stars that saw his career cut short due to injury. Richmond joined the NBA as the fifth overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors and made a name for himself right away as one of the best shooting guards in the league.

He averaged 22.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game on 46.8 percent shooting from the floor and 36.7 percent shooting from behind the arc. Three seasons in and averaging 23.9 points per contest, Richmond was traded to the Sacramento Kings by the Warriors.

Things went without a hitch in 1991-92, but in 1992-93, a broken right thumb nearly derailed the All-Star’s career.

Not to be deterred, he returned better than ever in 1993-94, averaging 23.4 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. In 1994-95, a season in which he appeared in all 82 games, he also took home the All-Star Game MVP award with 23 points off the bench.

While he created his legacy with Golden State in the beginning, he blossomed with the Kings, especially after his injury. In 1996-97, Richmond averaged a career-high 25.9 points per game. Following his departure from Sacramento, he won an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in his season in 2001-02.

It seems that many veterans with an injury find a way to a title before things end for them. Richmond is the latest All-Star to fight the comeback battle. He ended his career on quite the high note.