Gators’ Clayton Jr. and Richard Shine in NBA Debuts

Salt Lake City, Utah — Former Florida Gators players Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard both made impressive debuts in the NBA on opening night, showcasing their skills on the court.

Clayton Jr., now with the Utah Jazz, came off the bench with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter. He quickly made his mark by scoring a 10-foot floater, making it his first professional basket. Clayton Jr. also completed an old-fashioned three-point play by converting a free throw after being fouled.

Throughout the first quarter, Clayton Jr. accumulated eight points, two steals, one rebound, and one assist. He ended the game with a total of 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals in just 18 minutes, contributing to the Jazz’s victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

On the other hand, Richard, playing for the Golden State Warriors, scored five points and recorded a rebound, an assist, and a steal in 14 minutes of action against the Los Angeles Lakers. His first points came late in the third quarter when he aggressively grabbed an offensive rebound and scored a four-foot shot.

In the final period, Richard hit his first NBA 3-pointer with an assist from Warriors point guard Stephen Curry. After the game, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr praised Richard’s performance, saying, “Will looks like he’s in his seventh year. He doesn’t look like a rookie out there.”

Both players helped lead Florida to a national championship in the 2024-25 season. Clayton Jr. was a standout, scoring 30 points in crucial tournament games, while Richard added 18 points in the championship game.

Coach Todd Golden expressed pride in their achievements, stating, “It went great for everybody. They believed in us, and it worked out.”

If they continue their success from their college days, both Clayton Jr. and Richard have promising NBA careers ahead of them.