Luther Wright
Encyclopedia
Luther A. Wright Jr. (born September 22, 1971 in Jersey City, New Jersey
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player, in the center
position.
in the 1st round (18th overall) of the 1993 NBA Draft
. In his National Basketball Association
career, however, he played one year, averaging 1.3 points in 15 games during the 1993–94 season.
Prior to the NBA
, Wright attended Seton Hall University
, and played high school ball at Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey
.
After the season with 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 a psychiatric hospital
after a 30-day admission. Under his contract agreement with the Jazz, Wright was to be paid US$153,000 per year for 25 full years.
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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, in the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
position.
Basketball career
Wright was selected by the Utah JazzUtah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 1st round (18th overall) of the 1993 NBA Draft
1993 NBA Draft
The 1993 NBA Draft took place on June 30, 1993 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The draft had some talented players at the top, but injuries and personal problems hurt many of them. Anfernee Hardaway, Allan Houston, and Jamal Mashburn all looked like possible Hall of Famers until their careers were cut...
. In his National Basketball Association
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...
career, however, he played one year, averaging 1.3 points in 15 games during the 1993–94 season.
Prior to 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...
, Wright attended Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
, and played high school ball at Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
.
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.After the season with Jazz finished, he entered a mental institution. Still during his NBA stint, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
and left the team. In 1996, he was released from a psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
after a 30-day admission. Under his contract agreement with the Jazz, Wright was to be paid US$153,000 per year for 25 full years.