Update (March 26, 2017):
The Sacramento Kings have announced that guard Malachi Richardson will not return for the remaining nine games of the 2016-17 season:
Los Angeles, CA – Given the small sample of games remaining and a full slate of summer preparation ahead, Malachi Richardson will not return this season.
He has progressed very well after the hamstring injury in February and will be ready to compete in Summer League and offseason workouts.
Original Post Follows:
The Sacramento Kings will be without rookie Malachi Richardson for the next four to six weeks, the team announced on Thursday. The shooting guard suffered a partially torn right hamstring and will have to take time to heal and recover.
Richardson has not been a revelation thus far in his first year in the NBA. He has appeared in only 22 games with the Kings, averaging 3.6 points and one rebound per game.
He has also spent some time in the soon-to-be-renamed NBA D-League with the Reno Bighorns. In 11 games with the Bighorns, Richardson has averaged 21 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, shooting 44 percent from three.
The Kings won’t be missing Richardson much as they attempt to make one final push for the postseason. However, Richardson’s absence means he will be missing crucial development time.
The Kings drafted Richardson hoping he could fill in at a position they have not had any success in filling over the past few seasons. Despite Ben McLemore playing better, the Kings are still looking for a long-term solution at the shooting guard spot. There is no telling whether Malachi Richardson will eventually grow into that role, but for now he is receiving a major setback with his injury.
