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Breaking News: NBA Player Lorenzen Wright Found Dead in Southeast Memphis
Law enforcement officials have found the body of missing Memphis basketball star Lorenzen Wright in a wooded area at Hacks Cross and Winchester in southeast Memphis.
A law enforcement source confirmed the body was that of Wright, 34, who has been missing since July 19, though the Memphis Police Department won’t officially comment. Police are referring to their ongoing investigation as a “death investigation.”
Curtis Wright, Lorenzen Wright’s uncle told The Associated Press that police called the player’s father, Herb Wright, a couple of hours ago.
According to sources, a 9-1-1 call was made from Wright’s cell phone on July 19. A Germantown dispatcher could hear the loud blasts of several gunshots. The cellphone call ended at that point.
The dispatcher called back, but no one answered.
The body was found by someone who called police today.
At the Collierville home of Wright’s ex-wife, Sherra Robinson Wright, white bed sheets covered the windows.
A woman who arrived just as the family heard the news, said, “I’m just here to see my sister.” She left about 10 minutes later, with two children, a girl and a boy wearing a Lorenzen Wright Grizzlies jersey.
About 4:45 p.m., eight or nine adults and children left the house in a caravan of cars, including two identical black Porsche SUVs and a green sedan.
A large crowd of onlookers had gathered by late afternoon along Hacks Cross. There were adults with small children, even their pets. Many did not personally know the former basketball star but milled around the scene anyway. Cars lined the street. Among those gathered were former University of Memphis basketball stars Penny Hardaway and Elliot Perry, as well as family members and friends.
Wright was thought to be carrying some amount of cash 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.
He recently flew from Atlanta to Memphis to visit friends and his six children, friends said. He was scheduled to drive back to the Atlanta area July 19, with his six children and a friend. He was last seen at about 2 a.m. July 19, leaving his ex-wife’s Whisperwood Drive home. His former wife told police she doesn’t know who he left with or what type of car they were in, according to the missing person’s report.
Wright played 13 years in the NBA, including five with the Memphis Grizzlies, after playing two seasons at the University of Memphis.
Wright kept up an active Twitter feed that he often updated several times daily. It featured a picture of him playing in the old Grizzlies uniform, wearing No. 42 and guarding Shaquille O’Neal. It includes observations about his kids (playing Monopoly with them, teaching them to swim), including a picture from July 14, just days before his disappearance, featuring a smiling Wright and six kids wearing Japanese chef hats at a hibachi restaurant.
The feed went suddenly dormant on Sunday, July 19, with a timestamp of 12:22:41 p.m., with a response to someone with a handle of THEonlyMARY_P.
It is just one word: “why.” It is the last update from his feed, which had 125 followers and 375 tweets.
Wright’s standing comment for the page: “Entering a new part of my life with my eyes wide open!”
Former University of Memphis standout Chris Douglas-Roberts posted on his Twitter account: “RIP Memphis Tiger alum Lorenzen Wright.” Douglas-Roberts said he didn’t know what had happened to Wright or want to know.
“Lorenzen never backed down from any challenge given him, whether it was guarding Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal) or anyone else,” Grizzlies’ owner Michael Heisley said by phone from London this afternoon shortly after learning of Wright’s death. “He was a team player, a great locker room guy. There was never an instance that I talked to him when he wasn’t a positive, outstanding guy. “I am heartbroken today. I’m sure there’s a lot of people in Memphis who are very, very sad. He was a good man who had his share of tough times, and I’ve got to believe he’s in a better place.” Memphis Commercial Appeal
The news stunned Wright’s family and friends far and near. “I was optimistic they’d find Lorenzen and everything would be okay,” said Fred Horton, who coached Wright for one year as a senior at Booker T. Washington and is a close friend of Wright’s father, Herb. “I kept hoping for the best. I always thought he could take care of himself, but when you’re in the limelight things can happen and you become an easy target. “This hurts, it really hurts. He played for me one year, but it was like he played four. He was very competitive and was a tough guy on the court. But he wasn’t a tough guy off the court. He was friendly to everybody he met.” Memphis Commercial Appeal
Josh Childress: RIP to my big homie Lorenzen Wright. He was a great guy and great teammate. He will be missed by all who loved him. Pray for his family! Twitter
Carmelo Anthony: Sending out prayers to Lorenzen Wright family. He will be missed around the NBA. Hope this open people eyes. Nothing in life is guaranteed Twitter
Hakim Warrick: Just woke up 2 some horrible news… Thoughts and prayers go out 2 Lorenzen Wright’s family. Twitter
Kevin Durant: Send a prayer out to the family of Lorenzen Wright!! and anybody else that passed today Twitter
Rashard Lewis: Just heard some sad news, NBA just lost 1 of our own. Sending my prayers to his family. RIP LORENZEN WRIGHT God bless! Twitter
On a brief personal note, I had the opportunity to cover Wright on a daily basis when he was a member of the Atlanta Hawks back in 1999-00, and he was one of the nicest, most personable people I’ve ever had the chance to cover, always upbeat, even when he couldn’t find consistent playing time. One season later, given more playing time by then-Hawks coach Lon Kruger, Wright averaged a career-high 12.4 ppg and became one of Atlanta’s most consistent performers. SLAM
