NBL Canada's London Lighting have hired former NBA player Michael Ray Richardson as the teams first-ever Head Coach.

Ray Richardson was drafted fourth-overall by the New York Knicks in the 1978 NBA Draft and was touted as the next Walt Frazier.

The Boston Celtics drafted Larry Bird two spots after him with the #6 pick.

In only his second-year with the Knicks Ray Richardson became the first player to lead the NBA in both assists (10.1) and steals (3.2) setting Knicks franchise records in both categories.

Ray Richardson played 8 years in the NBA mostly with the Knicks, a short stint with the Golden State Warrior and 1983 and eventually becoming an Eastern Conference All-Star in 1984.

In 1996, Sugar Ray Richardson’s career came to halting stop when Commish David Stern banned him for life after he violated the league’s substance abuse policy for the third time

He was reinstated in 1988 but was again found guilty when but he failed two cocaine tests in 1991.

In 2000 Chris Rock narrated a film entailed Whatever Happened to Micheal Ray? a look at his troubled life.

In 2007 Richardson found himself in the news again after making anti-semitic comments to reports.

On December 14, 2004, he was named head coach of the Albany Patroons in the Continental Basketball Association.

On May 24, 2007, he was named head coach of the reincarnated Oklahoma Cavalry of the Continental Basketball Association. On December 16, 2007 he was fired by the Cavalry.

The London Lightning will open-up the Inaugural 2011 NBL Canada season way against the Halifax Rainmen.