Report: Former NBA player Wright missing

[ace3g]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—The sister of Lorenzen Wright(notes) says the former NBA player has been missing for nearly a week.

Savia Archie tells WREG.com in Memphis that Wright was last seen Sunday when he was expected to fly out of the city. The family has filed a missing persons report with police, who tell the website they don’t suspect foul play.

Wright played in college at Memphis and later for the Grizzlies as a pro. He last played in the league for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2008-09 season.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-wrightmissing

[Halberto]

probably went out looking for his shot... 29.4 , 25.0, 37.0 FG% in the last 3 years?

[timvp]

Hopefully he's okay.

I was saw a documentary about him and his paralyzed dad. The dad had him on a daily routine growing up that would make Nazis blush.

[Jloyola]

I was worried, i thought you meant Brandon Wright!!!

[PGDynasty24]

Pat Riley probably abducted him. You will see him on the Miami Heat next year

[Nahtanoj]

Pat Riley probably abducted him. You will see him on the Miami Heat next year

Yeah they need more depth in that frontline.

[Leonard Curse]

damn i just get a bad feeling something really bad happened to him, i hope im wrong ill say a prayer for him and his family. how can a 6'11'' man go w/out being seen somewhere!!! doesnt make sense

[Indazone]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/07/28/lorenzen.wright/

Missing NBA player Wright never forgot promise to friends, family

Lorenzen Wright was known in NBA circles for having a massive entourage
His posse was composed of friends he promised to help when he made it big
Wright has been reportedly missing since July 19; police are searching for clues

Lorenzen Wright went reportedly missing after he was last seen in Memphis on July 19.

If my math is right, Vince Chase, Turtle, and E were likely still in Queens. And Johnny Drama was on Viking Quest.
It was 2002 and I attempted to put together a piece for SI on NBA players and their entourages. Or, to the use racially tinged term of art, their possés. I visited with Gary Payton's crew in Seattle. And Jerry Stackhouse's "Stack Pack" in Detroit. And Ricky Davis' various wingmen in Cleveland.

In the course of the reporting, I heard one story again and again: Lorenzen Wright, then of the Memphis Grizzlies, was the Jordan of possés. Hell, he employed one "bobo" who drew a check just for waking him up every morning.
Like a lot of rumors floating around the sportscape, it contained vestiges of truth but, ultimately, was a lot more complicated. Wright not only kept a sizable entourage but they even had a name, "The Wright Stuff." And, yes, Rewis "Raw Dawg" Williams was tasked with getting Wright out of bed each morning at 9:15, a job made even odder by the fact that Wright was married at the time.

Along with Raw Dawg, there was "A-One," "E Man" and two security staffers, Tim and Dennis. They shared "a company car," a green Ford Expedition that Wright, naturally, purchased. They each earned a salary, as much as $2,000 a month. When they went out for barbecue or gambled at the casino in Tunica, Wright paid. When they each had "The Wright Stuff" tattooed on their arms, Wright picked up the tab on that, too. Stop the story there and it sounds like a trite cautionary tale: groupies, sponges and still another athlete hellbent on blowing his millions.

But then Wright explained the situation to me. In the early 90s, he was the star forward on a Memphis high school team. Raw Dawg was the point guard. They drove around their corpse of a neighborhood in Wright's beat-up car and if they had a few bucks they went to Taco Bell. But they dreamed big. Raw Dawg explained that one night, over a 10-pack of Tacos, he and "Ren" made a deal. "If one of us blew up, he'd take care of the other," recalls Raw Dawg. "Of course, to us at the time that meant buying nice shoes."

Raw Dawg stopped growing at 5-foot-9 and went to tiny Tougaloo (Miss.) College. He was supposed to play ball there, but it didn't work out, and he eventually left school. Wright, meanwhile, became a star at Memphis State. In 1996, the Los Angeles Clippers made him a lottery pick. And he remembered the pledge he made Raw Dawg. It wasn't a debt he was paying, a bet he had lost or blind loyalty. "I wanted him to share in some of my success," said Wright. "Why wouldn't you want want your friends with you in the good times?"For his part, Raw Dawg took his duties seriously. He learned to cook and became Wright's personal chef of sorts. He read up on fitness and physiology and became a personal trainer for Wright. And, yes, there were the wake-up calls, too. "My day is pretty much up to Ren," said Raw Dawg. "The biggest thing is that I be on time."

And the other Wright Stuff members had similar stories. One was a cousin of Wright's who was going through some hard times. "He could use some help," shrugged Wright, then in the middle of a $42 million contact. Another was a long-time friend who had hoped to major in business in college but had dropped out when the bills piled up. Wright wanted to help him, too.

Apart from the odd jobs and the errands, the "Wright Stuff" served another purpose. Lorenzen Wright's father, Herb, was a well-regarded coach and rec center director in Memphis. When Lorenzen was in grade school, Herb kicked a man out of the gym. The man returned with a gun, opened fire, and paralyzed Herb. Now, the Wright Stuff was taking care of Herb, whether it was wheeling him to his courtside seat at a Grizzlies game, or shuttling him to his doctors appointments.

So Wright was using his success to help out family members and prop up the careers of quasi-siblings down on their luck. He was happy to let fortunate friends share some scraps of his success. He let a boyhood friend serve as a business manager. Funny, no one wanted to make a half-hour HBO series about this arrangement.

Wright, who played his last NBA game in 2009, was last seen at a Memphis barbershop on July 19. Police reportedly spent the weekend fruitlessly chasing tips. The police are considering it a missing persons case. His family suspects foul play. Recently Wright went through a divorce and was served with foreclosure notices on two houses.

Other that than, no one seems to know much. But here's hoping that -- like reports of the profligate NBA player who paid a friend to wake him up -- this story ends up being more benign and logical than the rumors would have us believe.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/07/28/lorenzen.wright/#ixzz0uzEnaDrq

[Indazone]

yeah getting a bad feeling about this.

Police in Collierville, Tennessee, are investigating the disappearance of a former professional basketball player and say “there is a high level of concern” in the search to find him.

Lorenzen Wright, 34, who played 13 seasons in the NBA, has not been seen or heard from since July 18 when he visited his ex-wife and their children in Collierville, near Memphis, investigators said.

Collierville police spokesman Mark Heuberger told CNN that Wright’s mother reported him missing on July 22. “We’re taking it very, very seriously,” Heuberger said, “and there is a high level of concern.”

“His mom made the report because she felt it was unusual that he did not contact his children for an extended period of time, that’s what made her prompt to contact the police,” he added.

http://www.rolandsmartin.com/blog/index.php/2010/07/28/police-investigate-disappearance-of-former-nba-player-lorenzen-wright/

[Leetonidas]

Man, I remember when missing reports when out for one of my friends and we all thought he was probably just out banging some fatties...but the more days pass the more it becomes clear. I think Wright is laying dead somewhere, unfortunately. He's been missing for awhile now. I hope they find him, poor guy. :depressed

[lefty]

Damn Aliens


They took Bison Dele, now Wright

[FromWayDowntown]

I heard about this sometime last week; I was surprised at how under-reported the story seemed to be at that point. To know that he's still (apparently) missing is troubling. Here's hoping he just needed some time to himself and will contact his family to let them know he's okay.

[hater]

Pat Riley probably abducted him. You will see him on the Miami Heat next year

Pat Riley has encased him in a black box which he will use as encouragement prop in the Heat lockeroom

[ace3g]

Body Found In Memphis; No Confirmation If Victim Is Lorenzen Wright
Police are headed to southeast Memphis where a body has been found.

Officers can't confirm the identity of the victim yet, but sources say police are investigating whether it may be the body of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright.

Police sources have confirmed they are investigating a 911 hangup call from Wright's cellphone left Monday morning.

Read more: http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/68416/20100728/body_found_in_memphis_no_confirmation_if_victim_is _lorenzen_wright/#ixzz0v0qQOdFe

[lefty]

Oh shit


Whoever it is

[Kori Ellis]

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story/Source-Lorenzen-Wright-Found-Dead-in-Southeast/2mTkdqqd7UOSIrzrER_jRQ.cspx

Source: Lorenzen Wright Found Dead in Southeast Memphis

[lefty]

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story/Source-Lorenzen-Wright-Found-Dead-in-Southeast/2mTkdqqd7UOSIrzrER_jRQ.cspx

Source: Lorenzen Wright Found Dead in Southeast Memphis
Wow

RIP :depressed

[Kori Ellis]

I don't know if I buy "self inflicted" if he called 911. Not many people call 911 and then go to wooded area and shoot themselves.

[koriwhat]

man that's a shame... rip wright!

[dbreiden83080]

Christ what a tragedy..

[ace3g]

If a gun wasn't found, it wasn't self inflicted

[ace3g]

this was from the article I posted earlier


Wright likely had a lot of cash on him when he was last seen leaving his ex-wife’s Collierville home, fueling concerns he may be the victim of foul play, according to a Collierville police report released today.

which makes it seem like foul play

[fo'shizzle]

I don't know if I buy "self inflicted" if he called 911. Not many people call 911 and then go to wooded area and shoot themselves.

Son, the police are mailing it in.

[The Gemini Method]

Sad end to a young life either way...

May you find peace in death, Lorenzen.

[SomeCallMeTim]

I don't know if I buy "self inflicted" if he called 911. Not many people call 911 and then go to wooded area and shoot themselves.

Does seem strange.

If it was indeed suicide, could've been that he was distraught and knew he was a danger to himself, made the call for help but then changed his mind.

[MavDynasty]

wow

RIP :depressed

[timvp]

R.I.P.

It's amazing this story hasn't gotten any pub.

[DesignatedT]

he had 6 kids also. terrible.

[Texas_Ranger]

A rich girl gets lost on the Ocean and it's all over the fucking news, then an NBA player who is 1000X more known than that bitch gets missing and no one gives a fuck. Fucking media.

RIP Lorenzen.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Wow. R.I.P. Lorenzen Wright.

[ace3g]

there hasn't even been a breaking news type thing on ESPN

[ace3g]

ESPN finally had a "This Just In" about Wright

[Venti Quattro]

wow, RIP

[TheKingOfMIA6]

WOW Thats sad

RIP

):

[Red Hawk #21]

What a shame, RIP Lorenzen Wright

[adidas11]

RIP Lorezen Wright

[timtonymanu]

Wow! RIP Lorenzen Wright.

What a horrible thing.

[Flo-Rida]

wow ...

R.I.P , May god help his family through this .

[DesignatedT]

Doesn't look like a suicide... Saying there are multiple gunshot wounds.. and he made a 911 call on his phone.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Body-of-Lorenzen-Wright-found-near-Memphis;_ylt=AiDWMPvjCWXOUncEOsz0P4y8vLYF?urn=nba-258871

[ezau]

Rip

[Cry Havoc]

:( Sad story.

RIP Lorenzen.

[HarlemHeat37]

RIP, always hate to see something like this happen..

[bdictjames]

Poor, poor man. Rest in peace.

[ace3g]

Family, friends grieve for former NBA star Wright

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—Relatives and friends of Lorenzen Wright(notes) gathered Wednesday and grieved for the former NBA player who has been missing for 10 days, as police investigated the discovery of a man’s body outside of Memphis.

Wright’s uncle, Curtis Wright, told The Associated Press that police called the player’s father, Herb Wright, Wednesday afternoon with the news he had died.
---------

Former NBA star Penny Hardaway, who played at Memphis two years before Wright, said he heard the news from a friend and went to the scene near where the body was found.

“I cried. The emotions hit me immediately. It’s just sad because we lost a good person and a brother,” Hardaway said.


Elli0t Perry, another friend and former Memphis player, also was at the scene. Wendy Wilson, who once worked as Wright’s personal assistant, also was there and said Wright often used the road police had cordoned off as a shortcut to his mother’s house.

“He was a good person. He did not deserve to die this way. God is not pleased with this,” Wilson said.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-wright-killed

[DJ Mbenga]

this story might pick up now that it isnt a suicide

[HarlemHeat37]

Sorry, but :lol @ God not being pleased with this..

[SomeCallMeTim]

Sorry, but :lol @ God not being pleased with this..

Hilarious.

[SomeCallMeTim]

this story might pick up now that it isnt a suicide

I would think so. That plus the six kids, getting ready to take them all on a trip angle will broaden people's interest.

[Cry Havoc]

His last Twitter message:
“Entering a new part of my life with my eyes wide open!”

[Indazone]

Could be things related from where he grew up. The story I posted early said he always had his friends from the neighborhood's back and that his own father was shot one day. Also Wright gambled so it could be something related to the gambling or to just something from the hood. We may never know but it's a sad story anyway.

[DMX7]

A rich girl gets lost on the Ocean and it's all over the fucking news, then an NBA player who is 1000X more known than that bitch gets missing and no one gives a fuck. Fucking media.

RIP Lorenzen.

Yeah, but she is white.

[Indazone]

Body identified as NBA's Lorenzen Wright, police investigate homicide
By Adam Blank, CNN
July 29, 2010 7:36 p.m. EDT
Lorenzen Wright played for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2004. He had not been seen or heard from since July 18.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: Police say the medical examiner used dental records to identify Lorenzen Wright's body

NEW: The cause of death was "homicide by gunshot wound," police say
Family and friends mourn Wright's death
Police say they are working "to bring justice" to Wright and his family

Memphis
(CNN) -- A body found in southeast Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday has been identified as that of former professional basketball player Lorenzen Wright, Memphis police said Thursday.

The cause of death has been ruled as "homicide by gunshot wound," police said in a news release, adding that the Shelby County medical examiner used dental records to confirm Wright's identity.

"Investigators continue to work around the clock to bring justice to Mr. Wright and his family," the police department said in a statement.

Before that confirmation, Wright's family had already said that they were mourning his loss.

Wright's cousin, Camella Logan, had released a statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper saying, "We appreciate your thoughts, prayers and condolences as they are comforting at this very difficult time."

Wright, who has a home in Atlanta, was reported missing on July 22. He had been visiting with his former wife and their children in Collierville, near Memphis, investigators said.
Wright was last seen at his former wife's home shortly before midnight on July 18, and a 911 call was placed from his phone in the early hours of July 19, police said.
His body was found on Wednesday by Shelby County Emergency Services Search and Rescue, police said.

Dewayne Benton, a Christian radio personality in Memphis, said he left work early to investigate reports his station received about the body.

Benton described the crowded crime scene as somber.

"Lorenzen Wright had a lot of financial problems ... but this was just horrible," said Benton. "He was one of the favorite sons of Memphis," he added.

The 6-foot-11-inch Wright was a high school basketball star in Memphis, and he played professionally for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies from 2001 through 2006.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Lorenzen Wright," the team's majority owner, Michael Heisley, said in a statement on the Grizzlies' website. "We lost a member of the Grizzlies family."

During his 13-year professional basketball career Wright also played with the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings and most recently with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Wright did two tours with the Atlanta Hawks as well, from 1999 to 2001 and from 2006 to 2008.

Former Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens said, "Lorenzen was a real congenial young man who played with a lot of enthusiasm. This is certainly a huge loss for his family and friends."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with [his family] during this difficult time," said Hawks General Manager Rick Sund in a press statement released Thursday by the NBA team.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/29/tennessee.nba.player/?hpt=T1

[boutons_deux]

Sherra Wright, Lorenzen Wright's Ex-Wife, Subject Of Homicide Search

homicide investigators searched Sherra Wright's house because she started a fire in her backyard the night her ex-husband disappeared, on one of the hottest days of the year.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/02/sherra-wright-lorenzen-wr_n_666827.html?view=print