ORLANDO — Second-year guard Jase Richardson is making a case for a larger role with the Orlando Magic, hitting seven threes across summer league play while flashing the shot creation and game management that the franchise has lacked from its backcourt.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Richardson has connected on five catch-and-shoot threes and two off the dribble — a versatility that matters for a Magic team that ranked 23rd in catch-and-shoot efficiency off sprayouts from the paint and 27th in transition 3-point shooting last season. Perimeter shooting has been Orlando’s biggest weakness in recent years, and Richardson’s ability to score from distance in multiple ways could address the gap directly.
Magic summer league head coach D.J. Bakker singled out Richardson’s game management after a 25-point, four-rebound, four-assist and three-steal performance against the Philadelphia 76ers. As Philadelphia mounted a comeback, Bakker wanted the ball in Richardson’s hands because he trusts the young guard to control tempo and make the right decisions.
Richardson’s shot creation stands out for its blend of speed, change of pace, footwork and body control, though he remains heavily left-hand dominant. Data from his rookie NBA season shows he drove left 107 times compared to just 27 times to the right — a tendency opponents will exploit if he cannot develop a stronger right hand.
New head coach Sean Sweeney has yet to define Richardson’s regular-season role, but the expectation since he was drafted has been that he would juggle both guard positions. The Magic’s roster is built around jumbo-sized playmakers Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, with forward Noah Penda also handling the ball and creating for others. That construction allows Orlando to deploy its guards in more off-ball situations rather than relying on a traditional point guard.
Defensively, Richardson benefits from sharing a backcourt with Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black and Jevon Carter — three of the league’s best at pressuring opposing ball handlers. At summer league, playing alongside Ace Baldwin Jr., who is known for the same defensive intensity, has reinforced those habits. Richardson is not projected as a lockdown defender, but his basketball IQ and instincts allow him to disrupt passing lanes and swipe the ball from opponents.
The Magic’s summer league schedule continues this week in Las Vegas, with Richardson expected to remain a focal point of the rotation as the coaching staff evaluates his readiness for an expanded role when training camp opens in the fall.