The National Basketball Assn. advised Micheal Ray...

The National Basketball Assn. advised Micheal Ray Richardson that he must wait until February to apply for reinstatement to the league, despite the banned player’s lawsuit against his former drug counselor, Dr. Russell Ferstandig.

Richardson, then a member of the New Jersey Nets, was banned from the NBA on Feb. 25, 1986, because of cocaine abuse. Under league rules, he must wait two years to apply to re-enter the league.

Richardson’s $3.5-million suit filed last week against Ferstandig accused the psychiatrist of malpractice in treating Richardson’s addiction and causing Richardson to relapse. His relapse resulted in the ban from the league.