Noah Penda is not here for the Jase Richardson slander.
Noah Penda on fellow #Magic rookie Jase Richardson: “I know he received a lot of hate about his height and weight, but I think he plays bigger than his size. And that’s a great advantage for him and a really good sign for his future in the NBA.” pic.twitter.com/GTQiCNxaPF
— Jason Beede (@therealBeede) July 14, 2025
When Jase Richardson made the tough decision to leave Michigan State after just one season, he was being considered a potential lottery pick in the NBA draft. However, as the draft neared, Richardson had many detractors, who seemed to think his size would prevent him from playing a role in the NBA. Ultimately, Richardson went No. 25 to the Orlando Magic, much lower than he was expected to be drafted.
Fast forward to the NBA summer league, where Richardson has been one of the more impressive rookies, averaging 16 points per game, making tough shots at the rim, and hanging tough on defense. After their first two games, fellow Orlando Magic rookie and summer league teammate Noah Penda addressed some of the detractors and ‘hate’ around Jase Richardson heading into the draft:
“I know he received a lot of hate about his height and weight, but I think he plays bigger than his size. And that’s a great advantage for him and a really good sign for his future in the NBA.”
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