McKinley Wright IV explained

McKinley Wright IV
Position:Point guard
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:192
League:ABA League
Montenegrin League
Team:Budućnost VOLI
Number:25
Birth Date:25 October 1998
Birth Place:Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
High School:Champlin Park
(Champlin, Minnesota)
College:Colorado (2017–2021)
Draft Year:2021
Career Start:2021
Team1:Minnesota Timberwolves
Years2:2021–2022
Team2:Iowa Wolves
Team3:Dallas Mavericks
Years4:2022–2023
Team4:Texas Legends
Years5:2023–present
Team5:Budućnost VOLI
Highlights:

McKinley Wright IV (born October 25, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for Budućnost VOLI of the Erste Liga and ABA League.[1] He played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Early life and high school career

Wright is the son of McKinley Wright III and grew up in Champlin, Minnesota. Wright attended Champlin Park High School and averaged 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per game in his senior season.[2] He led the team to a 31–1 record and the 4A title game, losing to Apple Valley High School. Wright had 30 points in a state quarterfinal victory over Chaska High School. He was named 2017 Minnesota Mr. Basketball. He initially committed to Dayton but reopened his recruiting after coach Archie Miller was hired by Indiana.[3] In April 2017, Wright committed to Colorado.[4]

College career

On December 15, 2017, Wright set career highs in points (30) and assists (11) as the Buffaloes defeated South Dakota State 112–103 in double overtime.[5] As a freshman, Wright averaged 14.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game on a team that finished 17–15. Wright was named to the Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman Team while earning honorable mention to both the All-Pac-12 Team and All-Defensive Team.[6] His 175 assists broke Chauncey Billups' record of 143 assists for a freshman. After the season, he worked out with Billups to improve his jump shot.[7] As a sophomore, Wright was named first-team All-Pac-12.[8] Wright averaged 13 points and 4.8 assists per game despite nursing a left shoulder so tender that he slept on his back to keep it from being painful. He had corrective surgery after the season to fix a torn labrum.[9] Wright had a season-high 29 points in a 78–76 overtime win over Dayton, receiving jeers from fans of the school he originally signed with out of high school.[10] At the conclusion of the regular season, Wright was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.[11] As a junior, Wright averaged 14.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.[12] After the season, Wright declared for the 2020 NBA draft.[13] On August 1, he announced he was withdrawing from the draft to return for his senior season.[14] As a senior, he averaged 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game, earning Pac-12 All-First Team honors. Following the season, Wright declared for the 2021 NBA draft forgoing his extra year of eligibility.

Professional career

Minnesota Timberwolves / Iowa Wolves (2021–2022)

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Wright signed a two-way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves on August 6, 2021, splitting time with their G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.[15]

Dallas Mavericks / Texas Legends (2022–2023)

Wright joined the Phoenix Suns for the 2022 NBA Summer League.[16] In September 2022, he was signed by the Dallas Mavericks.[17] After training camp, his contract was converted to a two-way contract on October 15, 2022.[18]

Budućnost VOLI (2023–present)

On July 22, 2023, Wright signed with Budućnost VOLI of the Montenegrin League.[19]

Career statistics

NBA

|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota| 5 || 0 || 3.8 || .667 || .500 || — || .0 || .6 || .0 || .0 || 1.0|-| style="text-align:left;"|| style="text-align:left;"|Dallas| 27 || 1 || 12.4 || .469 || .321 || .684 || 1.7 || 2.1 || .3 || .2 || 4.2|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 32 || 1 || 11.1 || .475 || .333 || .684 || 1.5 || 1.9 || .3 || .2 || 3.7

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| Colorado| 32 || 31 || 32.6 || .451 || .304 || .770 || 4.7 || 5.5 || 1.0 || .4 || 14.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| Colorado| 35 || 35 || 32.4 || .494 || .365 || .807 || 4.9 || 4.8 || 1.1 || .2 || 13.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Colorado| 32 || 32 || 34.9 || .448 || .336 || .792 || 5.7 || 5.0 || 1.1 || .3 || 14.4|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Colorado| 32 || 32 || 32.6 || .480 || .301 || .844 || 4.3 || 5.7 || 1.1 || .3 || 15.2|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 131 || 130 || 33.1 || .467 || .328 || .803 || 4.9 || 5.2 || 1.1 || .3 || 14.2

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rader . Doyle . Dallas Mavericks Guard McKinley Wright IV Signs With European Club KK Buducnost VOLI . 2023-08-22 . Forbes . en.
  2. News: Fuller . Marcus . McKinley Wright, Minnesota's Mr. Basketball, reopens recruitment . December 3, 2019 . . April 10, 2017.
  3. News: Cody. Stavenhagen. Champlin Park's McKinley Wright named Mr. Minnesota Basketball. Star Tribune. December 3, 2019. March 26, 2017.
  4. News: Boyle . John . Former Dayton Flyers recruit commits to Colorado . December 3, 2019 . . April 28, 2017.
  5. News: Colorado gets past South Dakota State in 2 OT . December 3, 2019 . . December 15, 2017.
  6. News: Shapiro . Jake . 'This isn't just the McKinley Wright show:' CU Hoops primer . December 3, 2019 . 247 Sports . November 8, 2018.
  7. News: Graham . Pat . Wright works out with Buffs standout Billups to improve game . December 3, 2019 . . October 26, 2018.
  8. News: Bennett . Brian . Think a bum shoulder was going to bother Colorado's McKinley Wright IV? He has experienced far worse pain . December 3, 2019 . . October 29, 2019.
  9. News: Graham . Pat . Led By McKinley Wright IV, Colorado Buffaloes Enter Season With Lofty Prospects . December 3, 2019 . . . October 25, 2019.
  10. News: Schwartz nails 3 at buzzer, Colorado beats Dayton in OT . December 22, 2019 . . . December 21, 2019.
  11. Web site: Pac-12 announces 2019-20 Men's Basketball annual major awards. https://web.archive.org/web/20200326010600/https://pac-12.com/article/2020/03/08/2019-20-pac-12-mens-basketball-all-conference-awards-announced. dead. March 26, 2020. March 9, 2020. pac-12.com. March 9, 2020.
  12. News: Crawford . Kirkland . The 2020 NCAA tournament that could have been: South region . March 19, 2020 . . March 16, 2020.
  13. Web site: Howell . Chase . Wright and Bey to Test NBA Draft Process . . March 24, 2020. March 25, 2020.
  14. News: Pascoe . Bruce . Colorado's McKinley Wright pulls out of NBA Draft to return to Buffs . August 2, 2020 . . August 1, 2020.
  15. Web site: Timberwolves Sign Nathan Knight and McKinley Wright IV to Two-Way Contracts. NBA.com. August 6, 2021. August 14, 2021.
  16. Web site: Phoenix Suns 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster . July 5, 2022 . NBA.com.
  17. Web site: Mavericks fill out training camp roster with five signees. September 21, 2022. mavs.com.
  18. Web site: McKinley Wright IV's Mavs Gamble Pays Off, Earns 2-Way Contract. October 15, 2022. si.com.
  19. Web site: Iz NBA lige u Podgoricu: Budućnost Voli dovela plejmejkera Dalas Maveriksa!. KKBuducnost.me. July 22, 2023. July 22, 2023. Montenegrin.