Despite his history of drug problems, New...

Despite his history of drug problems, New Jersey Net officials said that they do not think guard Micheal Ray Richardson’s most recent disappearance is connected with his previous cocaine dependency.

Richardson, the Nets’ leading scorer and the NBA’s 1984 Comeback Player of the Year after rebounding from drug problems, has not been seen or heard from since he attended a team Christmas party Friday night.

He missed Saturday night’s game against the Washington Bullets, after playing in 151 consecutive games, and was absent from the Nets’ practice Sunday. Richardson has a contract stipulation calling for banishment from the league for life if he again tests positive for drugs.