Antoine Wright (basketball)

Antoine Wright

Wright during the2009 Western Conference Semifinals.
Personal information
Born	(1984-02-06)February 6, 1984 West Covina, California
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school	Lawrence Academy (Groton, Massachusetts)
College	Texas A&M(2002–2005)
NBA draft	2005:1st round, 15th overall pick
Selected by theNew Jersey Nets
Playing career	2005–2016
Position	Shooting guard/small forward
Career history
2005–2008	New Jersey Nets
2008–2009	Dallas Mavericks
2009–2010	Toronto Raptors
2010	Sacramento Kings
2010–2011	Jiangsu Dragons
2011–2012	Asefa Estudiantes
2012	Reno Bighorns
2012	Guaiqueríes de Margarita
2012–2013	Reno Bighorns
2013	Guaiqueríes de Margarita
2013–2014	Barak Netanya
2014–2015	Halcones de Xalapa
2016	Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
2016	Tijuana Zonkeys
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Big 12 (2003) Big 12Rookie of the Year (2003) Third-teamParadeAll-American(2002)
Statsat NBA.com
Statsat Basketball-Reference.com
Medals Men'sbasketball RepresentingtheUnited States FIBA Americas U18 Championship 2002 Isla Margarita National team

Antoine Domonick Wright(born February 6, 1984) is an American former professionalbasketballplayer who last played forRain or Shine Elasto Paintersof thePhilippine Basketball Association(PBA). He attendedpreparatory schoolatLawrence Academy at Groton;in 2002, he led the Spartans to anIndependent School LeagueBasketball Championship. After his junior year atTexas A&M University,he was selected 15th overall in the2005 NBA draftby the Nets, the highest pick from theBig 12 Conferencethat year and inTexas A&M Universityhistory untilAcie Lawwas drafted 11th in the 2007 NBA Draft. Wright played his first five seasons of professional basketball in the NBA. He has since played overseas and in theNBA D-League.

Early years

Wright was born inWest Covina, Californiato Wanda Wright.He attended theLawrence Academyprep school inGroton, Massachusetts,where in his three seasons he started 115 games and amassed 1800 points, 500 rebounds, 350 assists, 170 steals and 200 blocked shots. His career single game highs were 50 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists.

As a sophomore (1999–2000), Wright averaged 20 points per game, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, helping his school to a 15–12 record and earning him All-ISL and team MVP honors. The following year, his junior season, the team improved to a 23–2 record and Number 11 state ranking behind Wright's average 23.0 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. He was named MVP of the 2001 playoffs and earned All-ISL and All-Scholastic honors.

In his senior year, Wright, who averaged 26.5 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists, was again named the MVP of the playoffs and earning All-ISL and All-Scholastic rankings as his team reached a Number 7 state ranking.Wright was named the Number 1 prep shooting guard in the country by ESPN.com, who also ranked him the Number 4 overall prospect. He was also named third-team Parade All-American.He was also dismissed from the High School months before graduating for disciplinary reasons.

Wright joined the USA Basketball Junior World Championship Qualifying Team in 2002, with the team earning a bronze medal for their 4–1 record; Wright averaged 6.8 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, and a team second best 2.4 steals per game. The medal qualified the team for a berth in the 2003 FIBA Junior World Championships. He recorded tournaments bests of 10 points in the USA's preliminary round victory over theDominican Republicand seven rebounds in their semifinal loss toVenezuela.

Wright was heavily recruited, entertaining scholarship offers from schools includingArizona,Maryland,Connecticut,UNC,TexasandArizona State University.He chose to attendTexas A&M Universityand play under coachMelvin Watkins,primarily to show his loyalty to the coaching staff who had noticed him long before the other schools began wooing him.

Texas A&M University

Freshman year (2002-2003)

Antoine Wright had a phenomenal season in his first year atTexas A&M University,becoming the consensusBig 12 ConferenceFreshman of the year. Leading the Aggies with 6.6 rebounds per game,.7 blocks per game, 1.3 steals per game, and 2.3 three-pointers made per game, Wright's 14.5 points per game made him the second-highest scorer on the team, and one of only five freshmen in the nation to average 14.0 points and 6 rebounds.He had eight games where he scored more than 20 points, and 10 additional games where he scored 10 or more points. He scored a season-high 25 points in games againstMiamiandTexas.His best game, however, came againstKansas State University,in which he scored 24 points and had 11 rebounds.

Sophomore year (2003-2004)

Despite a tough year for the Aggies, who lost all 16 of their conference games,Wright who started in 26 of the 28 games in which he played, was named an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 player. He led the Aggies in scoring (13.5 points per game), three-point field goals (47) and blocked shots (98).AgainstGrambling,Wright scored a career-high 32 points, including 5 3-pointers. He recorded a career-high 12 rebounds againstKansaswhile also scoring 24 points. In the Big 12 Tournament, he scored 22 points in a game againstMissouri.

After Coach Watkins was pressured to resign during the Big 12 Tournament, Wright seriously considered transferring to a different school or entering the draft early. He met with new coachBilly Gillispie,who told him that he needed one great year to become a first round draft pick, and vowed to help Wright attain that goal.Wright was still not completely convinced, until, after returning late from a weekend trip toAtlanta, Georgia,Gillispie suspended him for breaking the rules. As he watched his teammates complete their off-season workouts without him, he noticed that the players were beginning to look tougher and better, and Wright decided to stay and join them.

Junior year (2004-2005)

As a junior, Wright ranked fourth in the Big 12 in scoring, with 17.8 points per game, and led the league in three-point completion percentage (.447). His 36 steals were a team high, and he blocked 22 shots, second only toJoseph Jonesfor the Aggies. He tied his career-high 32 points in a game againstColorado,including making all 11 of his free-throw attempts. AgainstTexas Techhe scored 29 points, converting 7 of his 8 three-point attempts.These accomplishments made him the first Aggie to be named to First Team All-Big 12 by theAssociated Press.

With Wright's assistance, under new coach Gillispie the team exhibited a dramatic turnaround, earning an invitation to theNIT.The team made it to the NIT quarterfinals, their best postseason performance since 1982, when they lost in the NIT quarterfinals.Wright scored 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting in their quarterfinal loss to St. Joseph's.

Aggie legacy

Wright chose to leave the Aggies after his junior year to join the2005 NBA draft.His 1,338 career points rank tenth on the Texas A&M all-time leading scorer list,while his 181 three-point field goals place him second, and his 50 blocks put him in 11th place of all Aggie basketball players.

Although Wright was projected before the draft as a consensus top 12 pick, the New Jersey Nets actually selected him as the 15th overall pick,making him the third Aggie draft pick in 29 years.This was the first time an Aggie had been taken in the first round of the NBA draft sinceSonny Parkerin 1976 and also set the mark for the highest an Aggie had ever been drafted, beating Parker's 17th pick.That record would be broken two years later when theAtlanta HawksdraftedAcie Lawwith the 11th overall pick in the2007 NBA draft

NBA career

New Jersey Nets

During his first season as a professional basketball player, Wright played in thirty-nine games for the Nets, averaging 1.8 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.3 assists, and 9.5 minutes per game. He was forced to sit out the beginning of the season on the inactive list, but began gaining minutes as the season progressed, eventually becoming part of the rotation. Although Wright was drafted for his jump shot, he shot only 35% from the field.

Wright's 2006–07 season began much better, as he became a big part of coachLawrence Frank's rotation. After starterRichard Jeffersoninjured his ankle against theMiami Heat,Wright took his place in the starting lineup. He was averaging 28.2 minutes per game and chipping in 8.5 points per game, and 4.5 rebounds per game off the bench.

An ankle injury caused Wright to miss eight games in the 2007–08 season.

Dallas Mavericks

Wright was part of a trade that sentJason Kidd,Malik Allen,and himself to theDallas Mavericksin exchange forDevin Harris,DeSagana Diop,Trenton Hassell,Maurice Ager,Keith Van Hornand future draft picks.

He scored a career-high of 24 points over 39 minutes in the 109–106 victory against theIndiana Pacerson November 25, 2008.

Toronto Raptors

TheToronto Raptorsacquired Antoine Wright andDevean Georgefrom theDallas Mavericksand a sign and trade forHedo Türkoğlufrom theOrlando Magicon July 9, 2009. It was a four-way deal sendingJerry Stackhouse(who was bought out and released immediately) and substantial cash from Dallas to theMemphis Grizzlies.TheDallas MavericksreceivedShawn MarionandKris Humphriesalong withNathan Jawaifrom theToronto Raptors,and theOrlando Magicgot a trade exception.

Sacramento Kings

On July 23, 2010 Antoine signed by theSacramento Kings.However, after 7 games, on November 29, 2010 was waived by the Kings.

Post career

In 2021, he was charged along with seventeen former players in a fraud case involving trying to bilk the NBA's Health and Welfare Benefit Plan out of nearly $4 million.

International career

Jiangsu Dragons

On December 31, 2010, he signed with the Chinese teamJiangsu Dragons.

Club Baloncesto Estudiantes

On August 9, 2011, he signed a one-year contract with the Spanish teamClub Baloncesto Estudiantes.

Guaiqueries de Margarita

On April 26, 2012, Wright signed with Guaiqueries de Margarita of theLPBofVenezuela.

AmeriLeague

On October 6, 2015, Wright signed with the upcoming AmeriLeague to play on the following season.However, the league folded after it was discovered the founder was a con-artist.

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters

On February 20, 2016, Wright was announced by theRain or Shine Elasto Paintersto be the team's new import for the2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup,replacing an injuredWayne Chism.However, on March 9, 2016, Wright was released by the Elasto Painters after under-performing for the team, leading the team to a 1–3 win–loss record during his 4 games with the club.

NBA career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goalpercentage	3P%	3-point field goalpercentage	FT%	Free throwpercentage
RPG	Reboundsper game	APG	Assistsper game	SPG	Stealsper game
BPG	Blocksper game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2005–06	New Jersey	39	0	9.5	.358	.067	.500	.8	.3	.1	.1	1.8
2006–07	New Jersey	63	23	18.0	.438	.322	.603	2.8	.9	.5	.2	4.5
2007–08	New Jersey	41	10	25.8	.401	.267	.707	3.0	1.6	.6	.4	7.3
2007–08	Dallas	15	0	11.7	.500	.556	.556	1.5	.9	.1	.3	3.5
2008–09	Dallas	65	53	23.9	.415	.302	.747	2.1	1.2	.7	.4	7.3
2009–10	Toronto	67	10	20.8	.406	.335	.688	2.8	1.1	.4	.2	6.5
2010–11	Sacramento	7	0	4.4	.125	.000	.000	.4	.0	.1	.0	.3
Career		297	96	19.2	.412	.304	.674	2.3	1.0	.5	.2	5.4

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2006	New Jersey	5	0	2.0	.250	.000	.667	.0	.0	.0	.0	.8
2007	New Jersey	12	0	13.6	.472	.500	.900	1.9	.1	.4	.3	3.8
2008	Dallas	1	0	7.0	.000	.000	.000	1.0	.0	.0	.0	.0
2009	Dallas	10	5	16.7	.488	.381	.818	1.3	1.0	.3	.2	5.9
Career		28	5	12.4	.470	.407	.833	1.3	.4	.3	.2	3.9

External links

• Antoine Wrightat NBA.com
• Career statistics and player information fromNBA.comandBasketball-Reference.com
• Antoine Wrightat RealGM.com