Luther Wright

Luther A. Wright Jr. (born September 22, 1971) is a retired American professional basketball player, in the center position.

For the country musician, see Luther Wright and the Wrongs.
Luther Wright
Personal information
Born (1971-09-22) September 22, 1971
Jersey City, New Jersey
NationalityAmerican
Listed height7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Listed weight270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High schoolElizabeth (Elizabeth, New Jersey)
CollegeSeton Hall (1990–1993)
NBA draft1993 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18th overall
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Playing career1993–1994
PositionCenter
Number44
Career history
1993–1994Utah Jazz
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men’s basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA Americas U18 Championship
1990 Montevideo National team
Summer Universiade
1991 Sheffield National team

Basketball career

A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, Wright played high school ball for one season under coach Bob Hurley at powerhouse at St. Anthony High School before failing out and enrolling at Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey.[1] He played two seasons of college basketball at Seton Hall University, averaging 9.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocked shots per game as a sophomore, before leaving school in 1993 to pursue professional basketball.[2]

Professional

Wright was selected by the Utah Jazz in the 1st round (18th overall) of the 1993 NBA Draft. Listed at 7'2" and 270 pounds in college, Wright arrived in Utah overweight and out-of-shape at 325 pounds.[3] The Jazz were not short on size at that time, with Mark Eaton (7'4" and 290 pounds), Isaac Austin (6'10" and 290 pounds), and Felton Spencer (7'0" and 275 pounds) on the roster at center. Wright was seen as a project who the Jazz planned to develop slowly. However, poor play on the court, in addition to poor conditioning and mental health issues, limited Wright to only one season in the NBA. He averaged 1.3 points and 0.7 rebounds in 15 games.

Personal problems

In January 1994, police found Wright at a highway rest area west of Salt Lake City, banging garbage cans and smashing in car windows.[4]

After the season with the Jazz finished, he entered a mental institution. Still during his NBA stint, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and left the team. In 1996, he was released from Essex County Hospital Center, a psychiatric hospital, after a 30-day admission. Under the terms of his contract with the Jazz, Wright was to be paid US$153,000 per year for 25 full years.[5]

References
  1. Futterman, Matthew for The Star-Ledger. "At rock bottom, Luther Wright finds salvation; Ex-Jazzman finds new life after years of excess", Deseret News, June 5, 2007. Accessed August 28, 2017. "His height and success brought him to St. Anthony High School, the basketball powerhouse in Jersey City coached by Bob Hurley. He lasted a year before flunking out.... Using a cousin's address, Wright's family enrolled him at Elizabeth High School, another powerhouse, where he led his team to victory in the state's Tournament of Champions."
  2. "Basketball Reference: Luther Wright". Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  3. "Deseret News: Big Woo Not Wowed by his Debut With Jazz". Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  4. At rock bottom, Luther Wright finds salvation
  5. via Associated Press. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Wright Leaves Psychiatric Hospital", The New York Times, April 4, 1996. Accessed August 28, 2017.


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