Antoine Domonick Wright (born February 6, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player. He attended preparatory school at Lawrence Academy at Groton; in 2002, he led the Spartans to an Independent School League basketball championship. After his junior year at Texas A&M University, he was selected 15th overall in the 2005 NBA draft by the Nets, the highest pick from the Big 12 Conference that year and in Texas A&M University history until Acie Law was 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 the NBA D-League.
Early years
Wright was born in West Covina, California to Wanda Wright.
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 ranking in New England 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. 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 the Dominican Republic and seven rebounds in their semifinal loss to Venezuela.
Texas A&M University
Freshman year (2002–2003)
Antoine Wright had a phenomenal season in his first year at Texas A&M University, becoming the consensus Big 12 Conference Freshman 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.
Sophomore year (2003–2004)
Despite a tough year for the Aggies, who lost all 16 of their conference games,
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 to Joseph Jones for the Aggies. He tied his career-high 32 points in a game against Colorado, including making all 11 of his free-throw attempts. Against Texas Tech he scored 29 points, converting 7 of his 8 three-point attempts. Wright scored 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting in their quarterfinal loss to St. Joseph's. while his 181 three-point field goals place him second, and his 50 blocks put him in 11th place of all Aggie basketball players. That record would be broken two years later when the Atlanta Hawks drafted Acie Law with the 11th overall pick in the 2007 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 coach Lawrence Frank's rotation. After starter Richard Jefferson injured his ankle against the Miami 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 sent Jason Kidd, Malik Allen, and himself to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, Keith Van Horn and future draft picks.
He scored a career-high of 24 points over 39 minutes in the 109–106 victory against the Indiana Pacers on November 25, 2008.
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors acquired Antoine Wright and Devean George from the Dallas Mavericks and a sign and trade for Hedo Türkoğlu from the Orlando Magic on July 9, 2009. It was a four-way deal sending Jerry Stackhouse (who was bought out and released immediately) and substantial cash from Dallas to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Dallas Mavericks received Shawn Marion and Kris Humphries along with Nathan Jawai from the Toronto Raptors, and the Orlando Magic got a trade exception.
Sacramento Kings
On July 23, 2010, Antoine signed by the Sacramento 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 team Jiangsu Dragons.
Club Baloncesto Estudiantes
On August 9, 2011, he signed a one-year contract with the Spanish team Club Baloncesto Estudiantes.
Guaiqueries de Margarita
On April 26, 2012, Wright signed with Guaiqueries de Margarita of the LPB of Venezuela.
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 the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to be the team's new import for the 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup, replacing an injured Wayne 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
Regular season
|-
| align="left" |
| align="left" | New Jersey
| 39 || 0 || 9.5 || .358 || .067 || .500 || .8 || .3 || .1 || .1 || 1.8
|-
| align="left" |
| align="left" | New Jersey
| 63 || 23 || 18.0 || .438 || .322 || .603 || 2.8 || .9 || .5 || .2 || 4.5
|-
| align="left" |
| align="left" | New Jersey
| 41 || 10 || 25.8 || .401 || .267 || .707 || 3.0 || 1.6 || .6 || .4 || 7.3
|-
| align="left" |
| align="left" | Dallas
| 15 || 0 || 11.7 || .500 || .556 || .556 || 1.5 || .9 || .1 || .3 || 3.5
|-
| align="left" |
| align="left" | Dallas
| 65 || 53 || 23.9 || .415 || .302 || .747 || 2.1 || 1.2 || .7 || .4 || 7.3
|-
| align="left" |
| align="left" | Toronto
| 67 || 10 || 20.8 || .406 || .335 || .688 || 2.8 || 1.1 || .4 || .2 || 6.5
|-
| align="left" |
| align="left" | Sacramento
| 7 || 0 || 4.4 || .125 || .000 || .000 || .4 || .0 || .1 || .0 || .3
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 297 || 96 || 19.2 || .412 || .304 || .674 || 2.3 || 1.0 || .5 || .2 || 5.4
Playoffs
|-
| align="left" | 2006
| align="left" | New Jersey
| 5 || 0 || 2.0 || .250 || .000 || .667 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .8
|-
| align="left" | 2007
| align="left" | New Jersey
| 12 || 0 || 13.6 || .472 || .500 || .900 || 1.9 || .1 || .4 || .3 || 3.8
|-
| align="left" | 2008
| align="left" | Dallas
| 1 || 0 || 7.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0
|-
| align="left" | 2009
| align="left" | Dallas
| 10 || 5 || 16.7 || .488 || .381 || .818 || 1.3 || 1.0 || .3 || .2 || 5.9
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 28 || 5 || 12.4 || .470 || .407 || .833 || 1.3 || .4 || .3 || .2 || 3.9
References
External links
- Antoine Wright at NBA.com
- Antoine Wright at RealGM.com