FORMER BULLDOG PLAYER AND UPIKE COLLEGE STUDENT IS CURRENTLY AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS ORGANIZATION
JUNE 30, 2020 – written by WADE QUEEN
FROM BULLDOG TO UPIKE TO PROFESSIONAL NBA BASKETBALL VIDEO GAME PLAYER: BRANDON RICHARDSON OF LOUISA, IN PICTURE AT THE RIGHT, JUST AFTER BEING PICKED IN NBA 2K DRAFT IN NEW YORK CITY THIS PAST FEBRUARY
This summer, on Tuesday nights, area citizens might see a local athlete on ESPN 2 playing basketball.
“When COVID-19 struck we kept chugging and chugging so they finally put us on the big screen, on ESPN because every other sport is canceled,” said Brandon Richardson, who is from Louisa.
Despite Brandon Richardson receiving an offer to play for the University of Pikeville basketball program (where he is attending the school as a nursing student), the 23 year old Lawrence County native is living out the NBA dream through a video remote controller.
“I’m the first Kentucky player to make the league,” Richardson said.
Richardson won the Brooklyn Nets tournament guaranteeing a spot in the NBA 2K draft back on February 23, 2020.
“I didn’t even plan on going to the league until I won that tournament. I was just playing the tournament for fun because I enjoy playing 2K.”
That win earned him a trip to New York City for the NBA Draft.
“I mean, I felt like a real NBA prospect or an NFL prospect.,” said Richardson.
BRich, as he is referred to online, was selected in the third round of the draft by the Washington Wizards, one of more than 20 teams in an ESports League identical to the NBA — only on video.
“Tournaments, playoffs. All that,” said Brandon Richardson. “It’s really realistic.”
Teams consist of five players controlling a specific position, practicing like the real team.
“We practice usually from 12 to 6 and sometimes 11 to 5,” according to Richardson.
The NBA 2K 2020 season prize pool is $1.4 million in winnings.
