Julian Wright
Encyclopedia
Julian Emil-Jamaal Wright (born May 20, 1987, in Chicago Heights, Illinois
) is an American professional basketball
player who last played for the NBA
's Toronto Raptors
. He played collegiately for the University of Kansas
.
in Flossmoor, Illinois
. There he led the Vikings to second place in the IHSA
state AA tournament his junior year, losing to Peoria Central in the championship game, who were led by Shaun Livingston
of the Charlotte Bobcats
. In 2005 he was selected to the McDonald's All-American team, and he was rated among the top ten basketball players in his class by several recruiting services) due to his talent and versatility. At 6'8" and 225 lb (102.1 kg), Wright combines good size with excellent athleticism and skills, which allowed him to play numerous positions in high school, including point guard
, small forward
, and power forward
.
as the pre-season freshman of the year in the Big 12 Conference
. Though he did not start at the beginning of the season, he quickly played his way into the starting power forward slot. His superior athleticism often allowed him to score baskets simply by virtue of his having beaten the defense down the court. A highlight of his freshman campaign may have been against the University of Texas
in the Big 12 Tournament Championship game when he put an exclamation mark on KU's win with two magnificent breakaway slam dunks in the closing minutes of the game. During his freshman season, Wright averaged 8.5 points per game, but he was praised more for his ability to help his team without scoring. He was named to the All-Big 12 Tournament
Team and the All-Big 12 Freshman Team along with fellow Kansas freshmen Brandon Rush
and Mario Chalmers
. During the 2007 Tournament
, he was again placed on the All-Tournament Team. Wright garnered national attention for a 33 point performance against the Missouri Tigers
.
For his play during the 2006–2007 season, Wright was named a third team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches' All-America Team.
Despite statements to the contrary, on Monday, April 9, 2007, Wright announced that he was making himself eligible for the NBA Draft. He hired an agent, making him ineligible to return to school prior to the draft.
by the New Orleans Hornets. In his rookie season in the NBA, Wright has averaged 3.9 points a game and 2.1 rebounds a game. On October 26, 2009 the Hornets picked up the option on Wright's contract for the 2010–11 season. Wright is represented by Rob Pelinka
.
On August 11, 2010, Wright was traded to the Toronto Raptors
for Marco Belinelli
.
. His hometown is Chicago Heights, IL and he attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School
class of 2005.
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 57 || 1 || 11.2 || .533 || .417 || .635 || 2.1 || .7 || .5 || .2 || 3.9
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 54 || 19 || 14.3 || .466 || .095 || .567 || 2.8 || .8 || .6 || .3 || 4.4
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 68 || 14 || 12.8 || .500 || .333 || .610 || 2.1 || .6 || .4 || .3 || 3.8
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Toronto Raptors
| 52 || 6 || 14.7 || .512 || .200 || .512 || 2.3 || 1.1 || .8 || .4 || 3.6
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 231 || 40 || 13.2 || .499 || .262 || .584 || 2.3 || .8 || .6 || .3 || 3.9
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 11 || 0 || 11.9 || .455 || .222 || .833 || 1.6 || .5 || .9 || .1 || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 4 || 0 || 8.0 || .429 || .000 || .500 || 1.5 || .5 || .0 || .2 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 15 || 0 || 10.9 || .451 || .222 || .700 || 1.6 || .5 || .7 || .1 || 3.7
NBA
Chicago Heights, Illinois
Chicago Heights is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 31,373 at the 2005 census. Chicago Heights is nicknamed 'Crossroads of the Nation'.-History:...
) is an American professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who last played for the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
. He played collegiately for the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
.
High school career
Julian Wright played competitive basketball at Homewood-Flossmoor High SchoolHomewood-Flossmoor High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School is a public high school in Flossmoor, Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area. The majority of HF students live in Flossmoor and nearby Homewood, but the school also serves areas of Olympia Fields, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, and Hazel Crest serving school...
in Flossmoor, Illinois
Flossmoor, Illinois
Flossmoor is a village in south suburban Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,464 at the 2010 census.The village is renowned for the quality and architectural variety of its housing stock, as well as its proximity to numerous country clubs. It prides itself on being a...
. There he led the Vikings to second place in the IHSA
IHSA
IHSA can refer to:*Illinois High School Association*Intercollegiate Horse Show Association...
state AA tournament his junior year, losing to Peoria Central in the championship game, who were led by Shaun Livingston
Shaun Livingston
Shaun Patrick Livingston is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks.-Early years:Livingston was born in Peoria, Illinois. He led Concordia Lutheran Grade School, coached by Mr. Tom Ruppert, to LSA state titles in 1999 and 2000...
of the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
. In 2005 he was selected to the McDonald's All-American team, and he was rated among the top ten basketball players in his class by several recruiting services) due to his talent and versatility. At 6'8" and 225 lb (102.1 kg), Wright combines good size with excellent athleticism and skills, which allowed him to play numerous positions in high school, including point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
, small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
, and power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
.
College career
Wright entered the 2005–2006 NCAA season for the Kansas JayhawksKansas Jayhawks
The sports teams at the University of Kansas are known as the Jayhawks. They are one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a member of the Big 12 Conference...
as the pre-season freshman of the year in the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
. Though he did not start at the beginning of the season, he quickly played his way into the starting power forward slot. His superior athleticism often allowed him to score baskets simply by virtue of his having beaten the defense down the court. A highlight of his freshman campaign may have been against the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in the Big 12 Tournament Championship game when he put an exclamation mark on KU's win with two magnificent breakaway slam dunks in the closing minutes of the game. During his freshman season, Wright averaged 8.5 points per game, but he was praised more for his ability to help his team without scoring. He was named to the All-Big 12 Tournament
2006 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament
-Regular Season/Seeding:-Bracket:...
Team and the All-Big 12 Freshman Team along with fellow Kansas freshmen Brandon Rush
Brandon Rush
Brandon Leray Rush is an American basketball player. On July 15, 2008, Rush signed a contract to play basketball for the Indiana Pacers. He was drafted in 2008 by the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. Rush played for the University of Kansas in college for three seasons, including the 2007–2008...
and Mario Chalmers
Mario Chalmers
Almario Vernard "Mario" Chalmers is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the NBA. He was selected 34th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves...
. During the 2007 Tournament
2007 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2007 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Championship was the 2007 edition of the Big 12 Conference's championship tournament held at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City from March 8 until March 11, 2007...
, he was again placed on the All-Tournament Team. Wright garnered national attention for a 33 point performance against the Missouri Tigers
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
.
For his play during the 2006–2007 season, Wright was named a third team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches' All-America Team.
Despite statements to the contrary, on Monday, April 9, 2007, Wright announced that he was making himself eligible for the NBA Draft. He hired an agent, making him ineligible to return to school prior to the draft.
NBA career
Wright was selected as the 13th overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft2007 NBA Draft
The 2007 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2007 at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. It was broadcast on television in 115 countries. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
by the New Orleans Hornets. In his rookie season in the NBA, Wright has averaged 3.9 points a game and 2.1 rebounds a game. On October 26, 2009 the Hornets picked up the option on Wright's contract for the 2010–11 season. Wright is represented by Rob Pelinka
Rob Pelinka
Robert Todd Pelinka, Jr. is an American lawyer, National Basketball Association sports agent and former college basketball player from Lake Bluff, Illinois . He is best known as Kobe Bryant's agent and President and CEO of The Landmark Sports Agency, LLC...
.
On August 11, 2010, Wright was traded to the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
for Marco Belinelli
Marco Belinelli
Marco Stefano Belinelli is an Italian professional basketball player currently with the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA. He is tall and plays as a shooting guard...
.
Personal
Wright is known for his interest in bowlingBowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
. His hometown is Chicago Heights, IL and he attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Homewood-Flossmoor High School is a public high school in Flossmoor, Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area. The majority of HF students live in Flossmoor and nearby Homewood, but the school also serves areas of Olympia Fields, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, and Hazel Crest serving school...
class of 2005.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 57 || 1 || 11.2 || .533 || .417 || .635 || 2.1 || .7 || .5 || .2 || 3.9
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 54 || 19 || 14.3 || .466 || .095 || .567 || 2.8 || .8 || .6 || .3 || 4.4
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 68 || 14 || 12.8 || .500 || .333 || .610 || 2.1 || .6 || .4 || .3 || 3.8
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
| 52 || 6 || 14.7 || .512 || .200 || .512 || 2.3 || 1.1 || .8 || .4 || 3.6
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 231 || 40 || 13.2 || .499 || .262 || .584 || 2.3 || .8 || .6 || .3 || 3.9
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2007–08
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 11 || 0 || 11.9 || .455 || .222 || .833 || 1.6 || .5 || .9 || .1 || 4.3
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 4 || 0 || 8.0 || .429 || .000 || .500 || 1.5 || .5 || .0 || .2 || 2.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 15 || 0 || 10.9 || .451 || .222 || .700 || 1.6 || .5 || .7 || .1 || 3.7
Awards and Highlights
High School- McDonald's All-American (20052005 in basketball-Professional:*Men**NBA: San Antonio Spurs over the Detroit Pistons 4-3. MVP: Tim Duncan*** See also 2004-05 NBA season, 2005 NBA Playoffs, 2005 NBA Finals**Eurobasket 2005: Greece 78, Germany 62**Euroleague:...
) - Illinois Mr. BasketballIllinois Mr. BasketballEach year the Illinois Mr. Basketball award is given to the person chosen as the best high school boys basketball player in the U.S. state of Illinois....
(20052005 in basketball-Professional:*Men**NBA: San Antonio Spurs over the Detroit Pistons 4-3. MVP: Tim Duncan*** See also 2004-05 NBA season, 2005 NBA Playoffs, 2005 NBA Finals**Eurobasket 2005: Greece 78, Germany 62**Euroleague:...
)
NBA
- Led 2008 NBA Playoffs2008 NBA PlayoffsThe 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
in Steal Pct.Steal (basketball)In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...