MIAMI — The Miami Heat signed center Nick Richards, a six-year NBA veteran who split last season between the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns, the team announced. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Richards appeared in 48 games last season with six starts, averaging 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes while shooting 51.2 percent from the field. He was more productive after his trade to Chicago, averaging 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in 20 games with the Bulls. He scored 15 points in his Chicago debut on Feb. 7 and posted a season-high 16 points against Cleveland on March 19.
The Jamaican native scored in double figures 12 times last season and grabbed double-digit rebounds on eight occasions, including a career-long-tying four consecutive double-figure rebounding games from March 3 through March 10. He also recorded multiple blocks nine times.
Richards brings a career résumé of 305 NBA games with 114 starts, averaging 7.1 points and 5.8 rebounds in 17.6 minutes while shooting 62.1 percent from the field. He shot at least 60 percent from the field in three consecutive seasons from 2021 through 2024 and has posted 53 career double-doubles. During his rookie season, he appeared in nine G League games with five starts, averaging 17.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.00 blocks in 26.3 minutes.
Richards will wear number 8 for the Heat, adding a physical interior presence to Miami’s frontcourt ahead of the upcoming season.