(Source: Amsterdan News)
“You have to be obsessed to play this game. Every time I stepped in between those lines when I was in Europe, I told myself that I was the best in the arena, no matter what,” said former professional basketball player Chris Wright to this writer.
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At 35, the Washington, D.C., native has played against some of the toughest competition basketball has to offer. Yet, his most difficult opponent arrived off the court in 2012, when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at just 23 years old.
Wright first noticed tingling and numbness while playing professionally in Turkey. The symptoms worsened, and doctors later confirmed he had MS, an autoimmune disease that damages the protective covering of nerves in the body. The diagnosis was life-altering, but not life-defining. After returning home, he began the fight to reclaim his career. Due to his strong relationship with his former college coach at Georgetown University, John Thompson III., Wright and his family were given access to the university’s medical staff, where he started the long process of understanding the condition and regaining his strength.
That determination carried Wright back to the court. In 2013, he signed a 10-day contract with the Dallas Mavericks and became the first NBA player to appear in a game with multiple sclerosis. Though brief, the stint was historic. He soon returned overseas, carving out a lengthy career across Europe, including hitting a game-winning shot in his first EuroLeague basketball game.
Wright’s road to that moment began years earlier on the courts of Washington D.C. A standout at St. John’s College High School, he became the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,580 points. In 2007, Wright was named the D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year and played in the McDonald’s All-American Game. He was named to The Washington Post’s All-Met team three times, a feat previously achieved only by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley.
After a successful four years at Georgetown, playing from 2007-2011, Wright dreamed of an NBA career, but the league’s 2011 lockout forced him to consider other options, leading him overseas.
“When I came over to Europe, it took me a while to understand that the game is much more than basketball. It’s like science. It’s such a different pace,” Wright said. “You have to know how to get your teammates involved early and play within a system so that you can get your moment to shine when it’s your time to score.”
He also learned life lessons.
“The thing that I’m most proud of is having my family with me, exposing my kids to so many languages and cultures and seeing them grow,” he said. His experiences there are featured in the new Hulu documentary “Imported,” which follows the journeys of current and former overseas basketball players.
Now retired after 14 years of professional basketball, Wright is writing a new chapter. He has worked alongside longtime Washington Wizards broadcaster Dave Johnson, co-hosts the “Dawg Talk” podcast with former Georgetown teammate Austin Freeman, and recently took on coaching duties with the Washington Warriors AAU program.
Living with MS continues to shape his perspective. “As a father and a professional living with MS, it can be hard to put on the cape and be Superman every day,” Wright said. “But I always tell my kids no matter what happens, bad things may happen in your day. Don’t bring it home. Have a positive attitude.”
