Joey Wright

Joey Wright (born September 4 1968)cite web |url=http://thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=253&Itemid=33 |title=Joey Wright |accessdate=2008-06-11 |publisher=TheDraftReview] is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of APOEL.

College career

Joey Wright was born in Alton, Illinois and enrolled at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa after high school. He played on the Drake Bulldogs basketball squad during the 1986-87 NCAA season but received little playing time on the court. Wright transferred after his freshman year to the University of Texas for a chance to play with the school's prestigious Longhorns basketball team. After sitting out as a redshirt freshman in 1987-88, Wright was selected as the Longhorn's point guard from 1988 through 1991. Wright and teammates' Lance Blanks and Travis Mays stellar offensive performance dubbed the trio as the "BMW Scoring Machine" during the 1989-90 basketball season.cite news | first = Mark | last = Rosner |title= 3rd wheel of BMW on Wright road to NBA |work= Austin American-Statesman |page= G2 |date=1991-06-16 |accessdate=2008-06-18 ] Wright was particularly known for his hustling and effective jump shots that greatly helped contribute to the "Scoring Machine". The Longhorn team won the Southwest Conference tournament that season and advanced to the Elite Eight in the 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

Professional basketball career

Wright spent the spring of 1991 at the Chicago NBA tryout camp, where he showcased a high field goal percentage and averaged nearly ten points a game. He even caught the eye of the Boston Celtics, who expressed an interest in Joey Wright during the tryouts.cite news | first = Mark | last = Rosner |title= Phoenix finally turns to Wright |work= Austin American-Statesman |page= E1 |date=1991-06-27 |accessdate=2008-06-18 ] However the Celtics eventually passsed up on Wright, whose lack in quickness and size were looked down upon. Wright was nonethless projected to be drafted in either the late 1st or early 2nd round of the 1991 NBA Draft. Several weeks later he was selected at the tail end of the 2nd round as the 50th pick of the NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. Friends and Longhorn teammates celebrated the annoucement at Joey Wright's apartment; but despite all the excitement the former University of Texas basketball star was much concerned with his low draft pick. Joey Wright was released by the Suns prior to the 1991-92 NBA season. Although Wright played overseas for several years, he never appeared in an NBA game.

Coaching career

Drawing upon previous coaching experience with the Austin Cyclones in the Southwest Basketball League (USA) as well as other US teams, Wright sought a coaching contract in the NBL. He was appointed as the Brisbane Bullets' head coach midway through the 2002/2003 season; a position which he has upheld to the present day. During this time Wright has led the team to great heights including a 16-win improvement in the following 2003/2004 season, successive finals appearances and a stellar 2006/2007 season featuring a minor premiership, a 21 NBL game winning streak and a championship.

Personal life

Joey Wright later pursued a career outside of sports in the Texas real estate industry.cite news | first = Michael | last = Crutcher |title= Joey calls shots and Bullets jump |work= Courier Mail |page= 13 |date=2004-01-16 |accessdate=2008-06-11 ] He operates two businesses at his home in Austin, Texas but spends his time overseas in Australia as a basketball coach. Wright is married to wife Kim and the two have three children.

References