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| Julian Wright | |
|---|---|
| Name | Julian Wright |
| Birth date | 27 September 1987 |
| Birth place | Houston, Texas |
| Height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Nationality | United States |
| College | University of Kansas (2006–2007) |
| Draft | 2007 NBA draft (1st round, 13th overall, New Orleans Hornets) |
| Career start | 2007 |
| Career end | 2020s |
| Position | Forward |
| Highlights | McDonald's All-American Game MVP; Big 12 Conference All-Freshman honors |
Julian Wright is an American former professional basketball player who played as a versatile forward at the collegiate and professional levels. A product of The Woodlands High School and the University of Kansas, he was selected in the first round of the 2007 NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets. Wright's career included stints in the National Basketball Association, the EuroLeague, and multiple international leagues, as well as appearances in youth national team events.
Wright was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in The Woodlands, Texas, where he attended The Woodlands High School. At The Woodlands he played alongside notable high school teammates and competed in events such as the McDonald's All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit, earning national recognition. His performances garnered attention from collegiate programs including University of Kansas, Duke University, University of North Carolina, and University of Kentucky, leading him to commit to the Kansas Jayhawks under coach Bill Self. Wright graduated high school as a highly ranked recruit in national listings published by outlets such as ESPN, Rivals.com, and Scout.com.
At the University of Kansas, Wright played the 2006–07 season for the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team in the Big 12 Conference. He started multiple games as a freshman and contributed on both ends of the court, playing alongside teammates like Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, and Cole Aldrich. Wright posted averages that reflected his all-around ability: scoring, rebounding, shot-blocking, and playmaking for a forward. His all-freshman campaign featured performances in marquee events including Big 12 Tournament games and non-conference matchups against programs such as Duke and UConn. After one season at Kansas, Wright declared for the 2007 NBA draft, joining a class that included players like Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, and Al Horford.
Wright was selected 13th overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the New Orleans Hornets. He spent his early NBA seasons with the Hornets, playing under coaches Monty Williams and alongside players such as Chris Paul and David West. During his time in the National Basketball Association, Wright also had assignments with NBA Development League affiliates and saw minutes in regular-season and preseason contests. In 2010 he was traded to the Toronto Raptors and later signed with or played for teams including the Chicago Bulls in summer or training camp settings, though regular-season NBA tenure diminished over time.
Wright's professional trajectory took him to Europe and Asia, where he signed with clubs in the Turkish Basketball Super League, Liga ACB, and the EuroLeague. Teams included Galatasaray, Pallacanestro Virtus Roma, SLUC Nancy Basket, and clubs in leagues such as the Chinese Basketball Association and Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional. Across international stops he competed against rosters featuring former NBA players, regional stars, and national team members from Spain, Turkey, France, and China. Wright's career extended into the late 2010s and early 2020s with contracts in Puerto Rico, Lithuania, and other professional circuits.
As a youth player, Wright participated in events that put him alongside other American prospects in competitions like the Nike Hoop Summit and invitational tournaments hosted by USA Basketball programs. While he did not become a regular on senior United States men's national basketball team rosters, his exposure in international club play brought him into tournaments such as the EuroCup and FIBA regional competitions through club qualification. Wright's club teams faced national-league champions and representatives in continental contests, pitting him against national team players from Lithuania, Spain, France, Argentina, and Brazil.
Wright was known as a length-oriented, multi-positional forward whose blend of size and athleticism allowed him to play both on the perimeter and in the post. Scouts compared aspects of his game to other versatile forwards of his era, noting his ability to defend multiple positions, run in transition, and handle passing duties relative to frontcourt peers. In addition to positional defense, Wright contributed shot-blocking and rebounding while showing flashes of perimeter shooting and playmaking. His professional path—transitioning from a first-round NBA pick to an international veteran—mirrors the careers of numerous American players who built extended tenures in EuroLeague and national leagues across Europe and Asia. Wright's legacy includes recognition among Kansas Jayhawks alumni and presence on all-time lists chronicling McDonald's All-American Game participants and Big 12 Conference freshmen.
Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball players Category:New Orleans Hornets draft picks