It could not really have been a more storybook beginning for Jase Richardson.
His first NBA start was coming at Madison Square Garden. This was Richardson on a big stage, thrust suddenly into the starting lineup and the spotlight by the injury to Paolo Banchero.
Richardson's first start? That part was something of a nightmare.
He had only six points on 2-for-7 shooting. The Magic were -22 in his minutes, despite the win.
Richardson looked like a player making his first start in the Garden. He looked like someone thrown into the deep end for the first time in his career.
He and the team clearly needed time to figure themselves out as they dealt with their early-season injuries.
In his second start against the Toronto Raptors, he had 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting in 14 minutes, logging a -5 in a 30-point loss. He had four points and six rebounds in the Magic's getback win on Friday with a +26.
During the team's weekend home games, he had four points on 2-for-8 shooting in the loss to the Boston Celtics and nine points and five assists in the loss to the Washington Wizards.
The young guard has the Magic's faith. And statistically and visually, he seems to be getting more and more comfortable.
"I'm definitely still adjusting," Richardson said after practice Wednesday. "I'm playing rotation minutes during the first week. That wasn't happening before. Still adjusting, still a learning curve. But I'm feeling more and more confident as we go game by game."
Richardson might not be the ideal starter. His size on defense still stands out. The Magic are still looking for consistency offensively.
But everything takes a little bit of time.
And Richardson is starting to find comfort with the most extended playing time of his career.
Richardson's chance
The Orlando Magic drafted Jase Richardson in the 2025 Draft based on his scoring ability.
They knew he was a smaller guard who might struggle to defend. But they were sold on his potential as a 3-point shooter, his ability to assist as a point guard and ball-handler, his ability to finish at the rim despite his size and his ability to set up and create his own shot.
For Richardson to succeed, he would need to maintain his efficiency as a shooter.
He mostly sat on the bench during his rookie season. He had limited time in the rotation, appearing in 54 games for 10.9 minutes per game. That is hardly enough time to make any clear judgments.
The Magic gave Richardson his chance throughout the preseason. And inserting him into the starting lineup after Paolo Banchero went down with his injury, playing alongside Jalen Suggs, was a show of faith in the young guard.
"Jase is one of a kind," Wendell Carter said after practice Wednesday. "He understands the game at a very high level. He's a young guy too, so he is continuing to learn. That's the beauty of this team, everybody wants to get better. Everybody wants to help this team get to the ultimate level that we know that we can get to. Jase is going to et better. He is just scratching the surface on what kind of player he can be. And he is already pretty good."
The production is coming slowly.
Richardson has made 4 of his 11 field goal attempts off the dribble and three of his four runners, according to Synergy Sports. He is an average spot-up shooter, scoring 17 points on 18 spot-up possessions.
It is hard to judge Richardson because even as a starter, his minutes are limited. He is still trying to gain footing nd establish a rhythm.
"He's growing," Desmond Bane said after the Orlando Magic's win over the Toronto Raptors. "He's only in his second year. He was playing in high school three years ago, and he is out here playing big minutes on a team trying to do something special. He put the work in. That's my little brother for sure. I love him to death."
But the attention also puts a spotlight on him. This is his opportunity.
Richardson in the spotlight
There is no doubt that Jase Richardson has talent. As he has gotten more comfortable and confident, he has started to be more aggressive and find his spots.
The Orlando Magic are still treating him as a low-usage guard. He is their fifth option offensively.
Richardson is still looking for his spots to make a clearer offensive impact. He is encouraged to be himself. That is slowly peaking through.
"It's always encouraging to have Desmond [Bane] and Jalen [Suggs] always talking to me, 'Be aggressive and be you. We're at our best when you are yourself,'" Richardson said after practice Wednesday. "When I hear that, it definitely builds confidence, but I have to give them a little bit more."
Richardson's impact is still unclear.
The Magic have a -10.1 net rating with Richardson on the floor, among the worst for the Magic's rotation players. They have a 103.7 offensive rating with Richardson on the floor, also among the team's worst.
That is not necessarily a reflection of Richardson's offensive abilities.
Scoring was always key for him because he was at such a deficit defensively with his size.
Teams are targeting Richardson whenever they can switch him onto taller players in the Magic's switch-heavy defensive scheme. Even bigger guards look to put him under pressure in the mid- and low-post.
Orlando has a 113.8 defensive rating with Richardson on the floor, nearly 3.0 points per 100 possessions better than the team's overall average. He has given up only 12 points on 18 pick and roll possessions, according to Synergy Sports.
Any defensive shortcomings are not for a lack of effort on Richardson's part. That fight is likely what has kept him in the lineup and the rotation as he finds his fit offensively.
That will keep Richardson in the conversation.
"I thought he did a great job providing energy throughout the course of the game, definitely had great effort and tried to connect the group when he was out there," coach Sean Sweeney said after Monday's loss to the Washington Wizards. "He has to keep building on that."
That will continue to be the message. Richardson must continue building on this opportunity and the chance in this spotlight.
He has fought his way into more consistent playing time and this opportunity for some visibility.
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