Julian Wright, who figures to become an instant millionaire June 28, says pursuit of the almighty dollar is not why he has decided to leave Kansas University for the NBA.
“Money has never been my motivation,” the 6-foot-8, 225-pound sophomore forward said Monday at a news conference announcing his decision to skip his final two years of school.
“It’s not my family’s motivation. It’s not about the money.”
Wright will receive anywhere between $2.6 and $8.1 million guaranteed over two years if he, as expected, is selected in the lottery (first 14 picks) of the June draft.
But he says his decision to depart is more about progressing in the sport he loves.
“I feel I can advance my game playing at the next level,” said Wright, who plans to hire an agent prior to June, when he will begin working out for NBA teams.
“It is an honor just to be projected to be picked by one of the top teams and to be able to compete with the best players in the world. I want to take my game to another level – to develop in the NBA.”
Wright, a Chicago native who averaged 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds his sophomore season at KU, first dreamed of playing in the NBA “in my driveway hitting game-winners like Michael Jordan.
“It didn’t hit me until I played my first varsity game as a sophomore: ‘Hey, I’ve got a chance to get recruited,'” said Wright, who ascended to McDonald’s All-America status at Homewood-Flossmoor High.
He said he stopped daydreaming about the pros after arriving on KU’s campus in May of 2005 until days after KU’s Elite Eight loss to UCLA on March 24.
“I never really looked into anything about the NBA because it’s not what my focus was throughout the year,” said Wright, who told reporters after that game he definitely would be back for his junior season. “I knew it would not be good for the team. Nobody on the team is looking out for individual things. After the season unwound, I started looking into some things. The interest sparked from there.”
He said his family members did some checking and discovered he’d be an elite pick in the 2007 draft.
“My family has been doing a lot in terms of getting in contact with some people, not directly with any agents,” said Wright, who indicated, “I expect to be in the top 10-15, 10-16 range.
“No advisers, just me and my family and what’s in my heart.”
Wright also spoke to KU coach Bill Self “a couple of times.” However, Self – who learned of Wright’s decision Friday but gave him the weekend to sleep on it – never formally presented any draft information to his standout sophomore.
“I was in the process of gathering information,” Self said. “My rundown would have told him he’d be a guy who has a great chance to go lottery. I would have told him what they (Wright family members) already believed. The consensus (of NBA teams) is his leaving would be a good business decision.”
Still, Self admits to being a bit surprised of Wright’s “business decision.”
“This is a moment I knew would come,” fourth-year coach Self said of losing his first underclassman to the draft. “With this team, I knew it’d come. To be honest, I didn’t think Julian would be the first guy to declare. Still, it’s not totally a bad thing, because when guys experience success and move on, it always is very attractive to some other guys (recruits) who want to do things similar to what Julian did.”
One of the reasons Wright’s decisions caught Self by surprise is Wright’s insistence in interviews he’d be back for season No. 3.
“We recruited Julian in one night. It took one good 2 1/2-hour meeting, and he wanted to be a Kansas Jayhawk,” Self said of an in-home recruiting visit.
“When Julian made that decision, he was focused strictly on Kansas. When he said he was coming back, he was focused strictly on coming back. We’ve all done things in our lives (where) you believe something at the time, then circumstances change.
“Later you may think, ‘Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have come out that strong.’ We talked about that. He’s been very bold in what he was saying about coming back. I really believe at the time he said it he felt total conviction he was doing so.”
Wright said he regretted “the way I approached the situation. After the game we lost to UCLA, you have media there. After I said it and read it, I was like, ‘That’s kind of how I felt at the time,’ but I knew I’d have more down time to look at it after the season.”
It was during that down time Wright decided the time was now to jump, despite the fact KU, if he and Brandon Rush stayed on board, would return five starters from a 33-5 team.
“Obviously, I love the team and coaches. It’s time,” Wright said. “I feel I need to do what’s best for me and my family, do what’s necessary for me to become the best player in the long run.”
As far as Wright gaining his communications degree, both player and coach said that would happen.
Wright will finish the semester and leave KU about 30 hours shy of his diploma.
“The only thing I asked him was, ‘Is graduation enough to keep you from leaving this year?’ The only reason I thought he should stay was if getting his degree was most important,” Self said.
“I do believe that will take place. He promised his family and everybody, ‘I will get my degree.’ He is pretty committed when he has his mind made up.”
Of putting his degree aspirations on hold, Wright said: “That part was definitely tough. Before I was recruited, before I got here, I said I’d graduate college in three years. I’ve pretty much finished my required classes.”
Wright said it was tough to tell his teammates he was leaving. He’ll continue to work out with them until semester’s end.
“Walking on campus, talking to my teammates, it’s hard. Presently, it’s hard. It’s been my toughest decision,” Wright said, adding, “I’ll still be around here until the end of the semester. I’ll still be around my teammates, pull them aside and talk.”
Self said Monday was not a day of mourning.
“Not a sad day, just a day if you coach at Kansas you’ll have to deal with time to time,” Self said.
“I do not think our fan base should be disappointed in this decision. I think our fan base should be realistic enough to know that when guys perform well, sometimes tough decisions have to be made. I know it’s been tough for ‘Ju,’ but not been a sad period of time for me. I’ve said all along players should do what is best for them and their family. Who is to judge what’s best? If he feels strongly about this, he has our support.”
Julian Wright announced Monday his intention to make himself eligible for the NBA Draft, thus becoming the first Jayhawks basketball player to leave for the pros after his sophomore season. The other four Jayhawks who left early to play for pay:
1. Wilt Chamberlain: Signed with Harlem Globetrotters after junior season in 1958.
2. Norm Cook: Drafted by Boston Celtics in first round with 16th overall pick after junior season in 1976 NBA Draft.
3. Paul Pierce: Drafted by Boston Celtics in first round with 10th overall pick in 1998.
4. Drew Gooden: Drafted by Memphis Grizzlies in first round with fourth overall pick in 2002.
