Coaching Jase Richardson always felt special to Tom Izzo, who coached his father, Jason, back in the early 2000s. So it must’ve felt special Wednesday night to watch the younger Richardson go 25th overall to the Orlando Magic in the 2025 NBA Draft.

You could see it. Moments after Richardson’s name was called by commissioner Adam Silver, Richardson hugged his family and friends — and Izzo — in what he called a “humbling” moment. Richardson and his coach shared a long embrace, just like so many after wins during Michigan State’s Big Ten championship season and run to the Elite Eight.

“I told him regardless if I was in Brooklyn or I was at home, I wanted him to be there,” Richardson said Friday evening, riding the Brightline train between his home in Miami and his new job in Orlando. “He said he was gonna make some things happen, and he ended up coming right before the fourth, fifth pick, and he was there.

“And then just to share that moment with him, it was really special. I mean, I’m really thankful for what he’s done for me and my family over the past two years.”

Two years ago, few would’ve guessed a one-and-done season out of Richardson. Then, he got to campus. From the opening games of the season, coming off the bench, he looked the part of a star. As the season continued, he only kept shattering expectations. He averaged 12.1 points per game through 36 games, averaging 16.1 points in the 15 games he started. He made the Big Ten All-Freshman team and led the Spartans to their first Big Ten title in five seasons and the deepest run in the NCAA Tournament in six.

It became increasingly apparent that Richardson should go to the NBA, but that decision was one he pondered. He spent a couple weeks back on campus, living life like any other student, before making his decision to enter the draft April 8. But even before then, Izzo had told him he should probably at least test the draft waters.

“Just think of the privilege I’ve had,” Izzo said April 16. “I’ve had his father who won a national championship and two Big Ten championships, and his son who won a Big Ten championship and played in an Elite Eight. And they both get to fulfill their dream of going to the NBA. I mean, that is all good.”

Richardson embarked on the long dance of the NBA Draft, going to the NBA Combine and training with fellow prospects for his agency, CAA, including No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.

“It was a super fun process,” Richardson said of going through the draft. “Just the guys that we had (with) my agency, we really pushed each other throughout the whole summer, and we’re just constantly getting better.”

Izzo even lobbied the teams looking at Richardson, including Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman. According to team reporter Dan Savage, Izzo told the architect of the Magic’s rebuild that Richardson “is a great player, a better teammate and person. He has a quality that many don’t have anymore, a high basketball IQ. And winning is very important to him.” In the end, Weltman listened, making Richardson the 24th Izzo-era Spartan drafted to the NBA. His father was the sixth.

Richardson followed his father’s footsteps to East Lansing, and he will do the same in Orlando. His dad played for the Magic for parts of two seasons from 2010 to 2012. He wore 23, while his son will wear the same 11 he wore in college.

“Me and him just kind of shared that moment,” Richardson said. “And we’re getting … to share a second team, which is crazy.”

In Orlando, Richardson finds an ideal spot for a young, complementary guard. Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Paolo Banchero form a corps of impact players, while a number of young draft picks leave the team’s cupboard filled with talent.

Even if Richardson slipped a little from his lottery projections — more to do with his height at 6-foot-0 ½ than anything with his actual game — he is excited for the fit. His knack for shooting, evidenced by his 49.3% from the field and 41.2% from 3 during his freshman season, can help the Magic, as can his defensive energy and playmaking.

“I was worried more about the fit, rather than the position I was picked,” Richardson said. “And I think this was a really good team for me to be a part of, because I feel like it’s a really good winning culture, and we have a lot of great guys.”

Richardson’s days as a Michigan State player are over, but he does plan to get his degree later on, just as his father did. When he looks back on his time in East Lansing, he’ll remember the final home game of the season, when the Spartans celebrated a Big Ten crown with a dominant — and messy — win over rival Michigan.

“That was the most important one to me,” Richardson said. “Being able to celebrate that championship with my brothers, everything that happened senior night. I was so proud of everybody, how we handled that game, and how we were as a team.”

His final game at Breslin Center was also bittersweet.

“It was a really sad moment, in my opinion … just having all those guys in their last game there, and just all the energy and everybody’s family being there. We’re celebrating a championship. It was one of the most humbling experiences.”

Next up for Richardson is the NBA Summer League, which starts for Orlando with a July 10 Meanwhile, Michigan State’s players are in the middle of their own summer league sessions in the Moneyball Pro-Am, preparing for a season in which Michigan State will sorely miss Richardson’s talent. But, he says, this next group is a good one.

“The team’s really talented. They have a great group of guys,” Richardson said. “And once again, there’s doubt, there’s doubt with this Michigan State team. (I’m) hoping the guys do the same thing they did last year and prove everybody wrong.”