Malachi Richardson scores 19 on a day when Boeheim’s Army needed every TBT bucket

Malachi Richardson

Malachi Richardson shoots against Forces of Seoul in Peoria, Illinois, in The Basketball Tournament. July 24, 2021. (Ben Solomon, TBT photo)

Peoria, Illinois – When Malachi Richardson agreed to play again this summer for Boeheim’s Army in The Basketball Tournament, he told general manager Kevin Belbey he wanted to atone for what he perceived was sub-par play during TBT 2020.

Whatever the motivation, Richardson made a lasting impression Saturday, scoring 19 points to help Boeheim’s Army emerge from a nine-point third-quarter ditch, then survive and advance to the tournament’s second round. Boeheim’s Army will play Team Heartfire Monday at 7 p.m.

On a day when only point guard Tyrese Rice provided much offense, Richardson offered a steadying scoring presence. He shot 6-for-11 overall, was 4-of-7 from the 3-point line and drained all three of his free-throw attempts.

He started the game making two straight 3s and led all scorers with 11 at the half.

“It felt good to see the ball go in, especially early on,” he said after No. 3 Boeheim’s Army defeated No. 14 Forces of Seoul 65-53 in TBT’s Illinois region. “Just knowing that I put in the work to make those shots – I work on that stuff all the time – so it felt good to see the work come through and be able to help our team especially when we weren’t really making shots.”

Richardson lives in Las Vegas but spent about five weeks this summer in Delaware at the Team Final (EYBL) gym working with Eric Evans, the brother of former NBA guard Tyreke Evans. Richardson said he visited the gym two or three times a day.

At 6-foot-5, his shoulders and chest carrying post-collegiate years of added weight room definition, Richardson looked every bit the first-round NBA Draft pick he was in 2016.

He could always shoot the basketball. He and his mom, he said, started form shooting when he was four or five. He would flick a tennis ball toward her and she would throw it back, the goal always to perfect the shooting stroke that would carry him from his five-star high school days to Syracuse to the NBA and then overseas and the G League.

When he reached age 6, Richardson and his mom moved to a court in the family’s backyard where he would shoot on a real basket as many times as the day allowed.

He shot 45% from the 3-point line in 14 games with the Canton Charge in an abbreviated G League 2021 season.

On Saturday, he showed developing dimensions to his game. After he drained his first two 3-point attempts, Forces of Seoul players shouted “shooter” whenever he touched the ball to alert whoever was guarding him to beware of his range from distance.

Boeheim's Army vs. Forces of Seoul

Malachi Richardson of Boeheim's Army and Julius Coles of Forces of Seoul during first half action during the first round game of The Basketball Tournament, Peoria Regional, Peoria Il. July 24, 2021 Photo by Daryl WilsonDaryl Wilson

Richardson waited for the inevitable closeouts, then put the ball on the deck and tried to reach the rim against Forces of Seoul. He finished a 3-point play on the fast break. He drew a foul on another drive and made both free throws. He seemed more poised, more confident with the ball in his hands.

“That’s been the focus,” he said. “I don’t want to be one-dimensional. I think I have a lot to my game and I think being able to put the ball on the floor expands things. You can’t just run me off the line and think I’m gonna turn the ball over. It’s just putting the work in and being confident in what I do. That’s the main focus.”

His focus, too, has been his young family.

He and his wife, Emily, have two boys (3 years old and 5 months) and the family was here to watch Richardson play Saturday. After he spoke with reporters in the post-game interview room, he huddled with his wife and kids, his 3-year-old bopping around beside him as he made his way to the locker room.

“It’s been amazing,” he said of fatherhood. “Every day is something new. Learning more about myself and more about them, just seeing the kids they’re growing into, seeing how they’re developing. Laughing, crying, food. Everything. It’s fun. My wife does everything, though. She’s the true backbone of the family.”

Tyler Lydon, Malachi Richardson

Former Syracuse teammates Tyler Lydon and Malachi Richardson, who were on SU's 2016 Final Four team, celebrate Saturday in Peoria, Illinois, as members of Boeheim's Army. July 24, 2021 (Ben Solomon, TBT)

Richardson was reunited with former SU teammate Tyler Lydon last week in Syracuse, where Boeheim’s Army held training camp. The team practiced mornings at Liverpool High School, then shifted to the Melo Center later in the days.

Lydon and Richardson helped the Orange to a Final Four their one and only year together. Richardson’s smoking hot scoring day against Virginia and Malcolm Brogdon triggered SU’s improbable comeback in the 2016 Elite Eight and earned Richardson the attention of various NBA executives.

“We’ve been reminiscing since we got back together,” Richardson said, “just walking around Melo, being back around Coach Boeheim a little bit. It’s been great.”

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