EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University’s basketball team received an unexpected gift from Orlando Magic rookie Jase Richardson on Tuesday, who sent each player a pair of his signature pink and purple NIKE Sabina 3 shoes before their home game against UCLA. Wearing the matching Richardson-designed sneakers, the Spartans dominated the Bruins, securing an 82-59 win while shooting an impressive 53 percent overall and 52 percent from beyond the arc.
Strong Shooting Performance in Richardson’s Signature Footwear
The Spartans’ sharpshooting was remarkable during the game; they totaled a season-high 14 made three-pointers while sporting Richardson’s vibrant Sabina 3 shoes. Michigan State’s success on the court marked a strong statement in style and performance. Jeremy Fears, the team’s point guard, expressed his appreciation for Richardson’s gift, stating,
“I like the color combination and how it goes. I am grateful that he was able to send us something and we were able to get something special, just being able to put these on with the guys, and to play. I know that he probably watched it. I appreciate him.”
Coordinating Future Appearances in the Signature Shoes
Despite the victory while wearing the Sabina 3’s, the Spartans are not planning to wear Richardson’s shoes at every game. Senior center Carson Cooper clarified,
“I don’t think we’ll want to wear them every game, but we will coordinate with the team, and make sure that we can continue to match,”
adding,
“but we are 1-0 in the Jase shoes. We won’t say that is the reason we won, but that was pretty cool what he did.”
Cooper also noted the surprise nature of the gift, explaining that Richardson did not give any advance notice before sending the shoes.
“We text every day, and he didn’t even give me a head’s up or tease us at all,”
he said, describing how the gesture caught the team off guard.
Players Maintain Connection with Former Teammate Now in the NBA
Several Spartans have maintained close communication with Jase Richardson since his transition from Michigan State to the NBA. The unexpected presence of his signature shoes in their locker room came as a genuine surprise for the players. Jeremy Fears commented on the moment,
“It was a little bit of a surprise. We walked in and seen it, and the box says, NIKE by Jase. Just grateful and shout out to Jase for giving us some kicks.”
Team’s Usual Footwear Preferences and Coach’s Style Concerns
Michigan State generally sticks to conservative color schemes for their footwear, usually favoring green, white, or black in line with coach preferences. Cooper highlighted this, sharing,
“You know, Coach really hates wearing any color that’s not green, white, or black,”
but added,
“But because we all wore it, it was okay. That was fun.”
Jase Richardson’s Impact from College to the NBA
Jase Richardson, now a rookie for the Orlando Magic, averages 5.1 points and 12.1 minutes per game, with shooting splits of 47 percent overall and 37 percent from three-point range. Richardson was selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft after an impressive freshman season at Michigan State, where he averaged 12.1 points per game and shot just under 42 percent from beyond the arc.
Though his tenure with the Spartans lasted only one season, Richardson played a significant role in leading Michigan State to the 2025 Big Ten regular season title and helping the team reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Following standout performances in the NBA Summer League, he secured a multi-year shoe contract with NIKE in July 2025, marking a successful start to his professional career.
