Professional Basketball Player, Professional Football Player. He held the unusual distinction of achieving notability on the collegiate level and with two different professional sports, all for the city of Denver, Colorado. Born Lawrence Wright, he attended South Side High School (New Jersey) and later received a sports scholarship from Colorado State University, where became a multi-sport athlete participating in baseball, football, basketball and track. While with the Rams, Wright contributed to their 1966 squad which clinched a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Selected by the St. Louis Hawks during the 1966 NBA Draft, he opted to pursue football professionally and signed as an non-drafted player with the Denver Broncos of the American Football League. He went onto appear in 26 games during two seasons (1966 to 1967) at the defensive-back position. Wright would lend his talents to the newly-formed American Basketball Association in 1967, as he remained in Denver to play with the city's franchise the Rockets (at the guard position). He distinguished himself during the 1968-1969 season, topping the 1,000 points scored mark with 1,130. He was dealt to the Floridians during the 1970-1971 season and concluded his career there one year later. In 335 regular season games, he compiled 3,590 points in five total ABA seasons (1967 to 1972). Wright returned to his native New Jersey, where he worked as Director of Recruitment and Summer Programs for disadvantaged students at the University of Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. He died from heart failure.
Professional Basketball Player, Professional Football Player. He held the unusual distinction of achieving notability on the collegiate level and with two different professional sports, all for the city of Denver, Colorado. Born Lawrence Wright, he attended South Side High School (New Jersey) and later received a sports scholarship from Colorado State University, where became a multi-sport athlete participating in baseball, football, basketball and track. While with the Rams, Wright contributed to their 1966 squad which clinched a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Selected by the St. Louis Hawks during the 1966 NBA Draft, he opted to pursue football professionally and signed as an non-drafted player with the Denver Broncos of the American Football League. He went onto appear in 26 games during two seasons (1966 to 1967) at the defensive-back position. Wright would lend his talents to the newly-formed American Basketball Association in 1967, as he remained in Denver to play with the city's franchise the Rockets (at the guard position). He distinguished himself during the 1968-1969 season, topping the 1,000 points scored mark with 1,130. He was dealt to the Floridians during the 1970-1971 season and concluded his career there one year later. In 335 regular season games, he compiled 3,590 points in five total ABA seasons (1967 to 1972). Wright returned to his native New Jersey, where he worked as Director of Recruitment and Summer Programs for disadvantaged students at the University of Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. He died from heart failure.
Bio by: C.S.
Advertisement
