Mitch Richmond

Jordan Ramirez

"He was such a talent that if you didn’t come and play on the defensive end, he could get 60 on you,” said Mitch Richmond.

Richmond, the former Rookie of the Year, six-time All-Star and Hall of Famer, matched up with Jordan during their playing days.

“If you did come and play hard and play aggressive and made him fight for everything he did or everything he tried to get, he’d get 30," Richmond continued on the Purple Talk podcast. "It was very hard to stop him, but what I would do was be physical with him.”

Kings legend and broadcaster Doug Christie also weighed in, saying he "tried to be extremely physical with him" when he saw Jordan on the court.

“One thing I always appreciated about Mike was he never cried," Christie explained to NBC California's Kings Insider James Ham. "He would just handle his business. If you were physical, he was going to be physical.”

Christie earned NBA All-Defensive First Team (2003) and All-Defensive Second Team (2001, 2002, 2004) honors during his 15-year career.

“I would try to force him off of his spot, make him shoot a jump shot - the point is, you’ve got to pick your poison,” Christie continued. “If you let him get in the air, if you let him get to the basket, it’s pretty much a wrap. Not only will he get fouled, but he’ll finish.”

Both stout defenders in their own right, there was only so much you could do against the GOAT.

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Richmond, Christie Explain Defending Michael Jordan

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This Date in Kings History: Kings SHOCK Sonics in Game 2

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Kyle Ramos

The NBA All-Star Game showcases the best talent that basketball has to offer, and 23 years ago today, Mitch Richmond shined the brightest.

In the 1995 All-Star Game, the Kings guard dropped a game-high 22 points and took home the MVP honors while representing Sacramento.

This contest marked The Rock’s third straight All-Star selection and he would go on to get the nod three more times in his career, all of which came while he donned the Purple and Black.

During Richmond’s Hall of Fame career, he tallied many accomplishments, but this would be his only All-Star Game MVP and also marked the first and only time any Sacramento player received the award.

No. 2 will forever be remembered by Kings fans and this accolade serves as a lasting reminder of the time when he stood out amongst his elite peers.

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This Day in Kings History: Richmond Wins All-Star MVP

Dan Lovi

Mitch Richmond was a member of two USA Men’s Olympic Teams: the 1988 squad that finished third and the 1996 unit nicknamed “Dream Team II,” which took home the gold.

‘The Rock’ stopped by the Mendenhall Center in Las Vegas to check on the current Men’s Senior National Team and was joined by his Team USA teammate and fellow Hall-of-Famer David Robinson.

Richmond and Robinson also sat with members of teams4taps – an organization that brings professional athletes and teams together with families of fallen military heroes – to take in practice.

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Richmond Visits Team USA Practice

Katie Cracchiolo

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Gallery: Michael Jordan vs Kings

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SACRAMENTO, CA -- The NBA announced today Sacramento Kings All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins was named to the All-NBA Second Team. He becomes the fourth Kings player in the Sacramento era to receive All-NBA honors, joining Mitch Richmond, Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic. Cousins is the first Kings player to earn All-NBA team accolades since Stojakovic was named to the 2003-04 All-NBA Second Team.

Cousins joins Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook, Portland forward-center LaMarcus Aldridge, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, and Chicago center Pau Gasol on the 2014-15 All-NBA Second Team.

In his fifth season with the Kings, Cousins averaged 24.1 points (.467 FG%, .782 FT%), 12.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.53 steals, 1.75 blocks and 34.1 minutes per game in starting all 59 games he played in. He posted career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists and blocks. Among the NBA league leaders, Cousins ranked fifth in scoring, third in rebounding, tied for 10th in blocks, tied for third in double-doubles (47) and first in personal fouls drawn (8.8). Cousins was named to the 2015 NBA Western Conference All-Star Team, becoming the first Kings player to participate in the All-Star Game since Brad Miller and Stojakovic represented Sacramento in 2004.

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DeMarcus Cousins Named to All-NBA Second Team

Alex Kramers

“Rock” and his picture-perfect jumpshot were profiled in a pair of 1990s commercials, including a spotfrom the NBA’s classic “I Love This Game” series, and a Foot Locker ad in which Richmond surprises a fan by draining triples on an in-store court while wearing a pair of his signature, black-and-red Nike AirBakin’ shoes.

Gay’s determination is legendary, as the Kings forward – carrying an over-the-shoulder mailbag while going door-to-door with tickets for his fans – runs up 38 flights of stairs when he discovers a building’s elevator is out of service.

Also of note is No. 8’s 2011 All-Star Game voting promo – a spoof of Dos Equis’ "Most Interesting Man in the World" – in which Gay wins a staring contest with a three-year old and transforms into a Venezuelan player (portrayed by former Kings guard Greivis Vásquez).

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Kings Commercial Classics 4

sacjwise

Chris Webber's era in Sacramento saw the team's greatest achievements on the court, ultimately coming one win short of a berth in the NBA finals.

On this day 17 years ago, the Kings acquired the mult-time All-Star and former No. 1 overall pick in exchange for another franchise legend in Mitch Richmond and forward Otis Thorpe.

With the Kings, Webber averaged 23.5 points per game in the regular season and 21.7 PPG over 53 playoff games.