{{short description|American basketball player (born 1998)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = McKinley Wright IV | image = McKinley Wright IV 25 Dubai Basketball Euroleague 20251014 (4) (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Wright with [[Dubai Basketball|Dubai]] in 2025 | position = [[Point guard]] | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11 | weight_lbs = 192 | league = [[ABA League]]<br>[[EuroLeague]] | team = Dubai Basketball | number = 25 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|10|25}} | birth_place = [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]], U.S. | high_school = [[Champlin Park High School|Champlin Park]]<br>([[Champlin, Minnesota]]) | college = [[Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball|Colorado]] (2017–2021) | draft_year = 2021 | career_start = 2021 | years1 = {{nbay|2021|full=y}} | team1 = [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] | years2 = [[2021–22 NBA G League season|2021–2022]] | team2 = →[[Iowa Wolves]] | years3 = {{nbay|2022|full=y}} | team3 = [[Dallas Mavericks]] | years4 = [[2022–23 NBA G League season|2022–2023]] | team4 = →[[Texas Legends]] | years5 = 2023–2025 | team5 = [[KK Budućnost|Budućnost]] | years6 = 2025–present | team6 = [[Dubai Basketball|Dubai]] | highlights = * [[ABA League MVP]] ([[2024–25 ABA League First Division|2025]]) * [[ABA League Ideal Starting Five|All-ABA League Team]] ([[2024–25 ABA League First Division|2025]]) * [[Prva A Liga|Montenegrin League]] champion (2024) * [[Montenegrin Basketball Cup|Montenegrin Cup]] winner (2025) * 3× First-team [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference men's basketball teams|All-Pac-12]] (2019–2021) * [[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]] All-Defensive Team (2020) * Pac-12 All-Freshman Team (2018) * [[Minnesota Mr. Basketball]] (2017) }} '''McKinley Wright IV''' (born October 25, 1998) is an American professional [[basketball]] player for [[Dubai Basketball]] of the [[ABA League]] and the [[EuroLeague]]. He played [[college basketball]] for the [[Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball|Colorado Buffaloes]].
==Early life== Wright is the son of McKinley Wright III and grew up in [[Champlin, Minnesota]]. Wright attended [[Champlin Park High School]] and averaged 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per game in his senior season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fuller |first1=Marcus |title=McKinley Wright, Minnesota's Mr. Basketball, reopens recruitment |url=http://www.startribune.com/mckinley-wright-minnesota-s-mr-basketball-reopens-recruitment/418673243/ |accessdate=December 3, 2019 |work=[[Star Tribune]] |date=April 10, 2017}}</ref> He led the team to a 31–1 record and the 4A title game, losing to [[Apple Valley High School (Minnesota)|Apple Valley High School]]. Wright had 30 points in a state quarterfinal victory over [[Chaska High School]]. He was named 2017 [[Minnesota Mr. Basketball]]. He initially committed to [[Dayton Flyers men's basketball|Dayton]] but reopened his recruiting after coach [[Archie Miller (basketball)|Archie Miller]] was hired by [[Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball|Indiana]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Cody|last=Stavenhagen|url=http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/03/26/champlin-parks-mckinley-wright-named-mr-basketball/|title=Champlin Park's McKinley Wright named Mr. Minnesota Basketball|work=[[Star Tribune]]|accessdate=December 3, 2019|date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> In April 2017, Wright committed to [[Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball|Colorado]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boyle |first1=John |title=Former Dayton Flyers recruit commits to Colorado |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/former-dayton-flyers-recruit-commits-colorado/p07qYB4etaI09otwpSxOZP/ |accessdate=December 3, 2019 |work=[[Dayton Daily News]] |date=April 28, 2017}}</ref>
==College career== [[File:McKinley Wright.jpg|thumb|Wright while playing for [[Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball|Colorado Buffaloes]], in November 2017]] On December 15, 2017, Wright set career highs in points (30) and assists (11) as the Buffaloes defeated [[South Dakota State Jackrabbits men's basketball|South Dakota State]] 112–103 in double overtime.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colorado gets past South Dakota State in 2 OT |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/basketball-ncaa-colorado-souther-dakotae/colorado-gets-past-south-dakota-state-in-2-ot-idUSMTZEDCG1C2Y4V |accessdate=December 3, 2019 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=December 15, 2017}}</ref> As a freshman, Wright averaged 14.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game on a team that finished 17–15. Wright was named to the [[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]] Conference All-Freshman Team while earning honorable mention to both the All-Pac-12 Team and All-Defensive Team.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=Jake |title='This isn't just the McKinley Wright show:' CU Hoops primer |url=https://247sports.com/college/colorado/Article/cu-buffs-2018-19-season-focus-mckinley-wright-tad-boyle-124424260/ |accessdate=December 3, 2019 |work=247 Sports |date=November 8, 2018}}</ref> His 175 assists broke [[Chauncey Billups]]' record of 143 assists for a freshman. After the season, he worked out with Billups to improve his jump shot.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Pat |title=Wright works out with Buffs standout Billups to improve game |url=https://apnews.com/9cd75bf7c22242e693288b74eb247618 |accessdate=December 3, 2019 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=October 26, 2018}}</ref> As a sophomore, Wright was named first-team [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference men's basketball teams|All-Pac-12]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Brian |title=Think a bum shoulder was going to bother Colorado's McKinley Wright IV? He has experienced far worse pain |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1330969/2019/10/29/thought-a-hurt-shoulder-was-going-to-bother-colorados-mckinley-wright-hes-experienced-far-worse-pain-than-that/ |access-date=December 3, 2019 |work=[[The Athletic]] |date=October 29, 2019}}</ref>
Wright averaged 13 points and 4.8 assists per game despite nursing a left shoulder so tender that he slept on his back to keep it from being painful. He had corrective surgery after the season to fix a torn labrum.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Pat |title=Led By McKinley Wright IV, Colorado Buffaloes Enter Season With Lofty Prospects |url=https://denver.cbslocal.com/2019/10/25/mckinley-wright-iv-tyler-bey-colorado-buffaloes-ncaa-pac-12/ |accessdate=December 3, 2019 |work=[[CBS]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=October 25, 2019}}</ref> Wright had a season-high 29 points in a 78–76 overtime win over [[Dayton Flyers men's basketball|Dayton]], receiving jeers from fans of the school he originally signed with out of high school.<ref>{{cite news |title=Schwartz nails 3 at buzzer, Colorado beats Dayton in OT |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401170191 |accessdate=December 22, 2019 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=December 21, 2019}}</ref> At the conclusion of the regular season, Wright was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.<ref name="Pac-12 Awards">{{Cite web|url=https://pac-12.com/article/2020/03/08/2019-20-pac-12-mens-basketball-all-conference-awards-announced|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326010600/https://pac-12.com/article/2020/03/08/2019-20-pac-12-mens-basketball-all-conference-awards-announced|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 26, 2020|title=Pac-12 announces 2019-20 Men's Basketball annual major awards|date=March 9, 2020|website=pac-12.com|access-date=March 9, 2020}}</ref> As a junior, Wright averaged 14.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Crawford |first1=Kirkland |title=The 2020 NCAA tournament that could have been: South region |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/2020/03/16/ncaa-tournament-2020-march-madness-west-baylor-michigan-basketball/5055501002/ |accessdate=March 19, 2020 |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=March 16, 2020}}</ref> After the season, Wright declared for the [[2020 NBA draft]].<ref name="si">{{cite web |last1=Howell |first1=Chase |title=Wright and Bey to Test NBA Draft Process |url=https://www.si.com/college/colorado/basketball/bey-and-wright-to-test-nba-draft-process |website=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=March 24, 2020|accessdate=March 25, 2020}}</ref> On August 1, he announced he was withdrawing from the draft to return for his senior season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pascoe |first1=Bruce |title=Colorado's McKinley Wright pulls out of NBA Draft to return to Buffs |url=http://kokomoperspective.com/sports/ncaa/colorados-mckinley-wright-pulls-out-of-nba-draft-to-return-to-buffs/article_3d8d8447-4d5a-5c12-a41d-f89e0818ef76.html |accessdate=August 2, 2020 |work=[[Kokomo Perspective]] |date=August 1, 2020}}</ref> As a senior, he averaged 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game, earning [[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]] All-First Team honors. Following the season, Wright declared for the [[2021 NBA draft]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA 2021 Draft Prospects {{!}} McKinley Wright IV {{!}} NBA.com |url=https://www.nba.com/draft/2021/prospects/mckinley-wright-iv |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=NBA |language=en}}</ref> forgoing his extra year of college eligibility due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Givony |first=Jonathan |date=2021-02-26 |title=Pandemic changes NBA draft rules for seniors |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30968822/pandemic-changes-nba-draft-rules-seniors |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===Minnesota Timberwolves / Iowa Wolves (2021–2022)=== After going undrafted in the [[2021 NBA draft]], Wright signed a [[two-way contract]] with the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] on August 6, 2021, splitting time with their G League affiliate, the [[Iowa Wolves]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Timberwolves Sign Nathan Knight and McKinley Wright IV to Two-Way Contracts|url=https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/timberwolves-sign-nathan-knight-and-mckinley-wright-iv-two-way-contracts|website=NBA.com|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=August 14, 2021}}</ref>
===Dallas Mavericks / Texas Legends (2022–2023)=== Wright joined the [[Phoenix Suns]] for the [[2022 NBA Summer League]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phoenix Suns 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster |url=https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2022/vegas/team/1610612756/suns |access-date=July 5, 2022 |website=NBA.com}}</ref> In September 2022, he was signed by the [[Dallas Mavericks]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mavericks fill out training camp roster with five signees|url=https://www.mavs.com/camp-signees-2/|access-date=September 21, 2022|website=mavs.com}}</ref> After training camp, his contract was converted to a two-way contract on October 15, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=McKinley Wright IV's Mavs Gamble Pays Off, Earns 2-Way Contract|url=https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/dallas-mavs-mckinley-wright-signs-two-way-contract|access-date=October 15, 2022|website=si.com}}</ref>
===Budućnost VOLI (2023–2025)=== On July 22, 2023, Wright signed with [[KK Budućnost|Budućnost VOLI]] of the [[Prva A Liga|Montenegrin League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Iz NBA lige u Podgoricu: Budućnost Voli dovela plejmejkera Dalas Maveriksa!|url=https://kkbuducnost.me/vijesti/iz-nba-lige-u-podgoricu-buducnost-voli-dovela-plejmejkera-dalas-maveriksa/|website=KKBuducnost.me|date=July 22, 2023|access-date=July 22, 2023|language=Montenegrin}}</ref> In his debut season with Budućnost, Wright averaged 10.5 points, 4.3 assists and 2 rebounds on 46.3% shooting from the field, over 30 ABA League games.
During the 2024–25 season, Wright improved his numbers, averaging 12.8 points, 4.9 assists and 2.4 points on 54.5% shooting from the field, over 30 ABA League games. For his performances throughout the season, he was named the [[2024–25 ABA League First Division|ABA League]] [[ABA League MVP|MVP]]; he was also named the [[ABA League Ideal Starting Five]].<ref name="aba-mvp-2025">{{cite news |title=2024/25 Regular Season NLB MVP: McKinley Wright |url=https://www.aba-liga.com/news/52933/2024-25-regular-season-nlb-mvp-mckinley-wright/ |access-date=9 May 2025 |work=aba-liga.com |date=8 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Petrušev, Kamenjaš, Wright, Jones and Brown form the Ideal Starting Five |url=https://www.aba-liga.com/news/52939/petrusev-kamenjas-wright-jones-and-brown-form-the-ideal-starting-five/ |access-date=9 May 2025 |work=aba-liga.com |date=8 May 2025}}</ref>
===Dubai Basketball (2025–present)=== On July 10, 2025, Wright signed a two-year contract with [[Dubai Basketball]] of the [[ABA League]] and the [[EuroLeague]].<ref name="dubai2025">{{cite news |title=Dubai Basketball Signs American Talent McKinley Wright IV on 2-Year Deal |url=https://dubaibasketball.com/basketball/dubai-basketball-signs-american-talent-mckinley-wright-iv-on-2-year-deal/ |access-date=10 July 2025 |work=dubaibasketball.com |date=10 July 2025}}</ref> In his first season with Dubai, he was named [[EuroLeague MVP of the Month|MVP of the month]] of February of the [[2025–26 EuroLeague]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/mckinley-wright-locks-up-euroleague-mvp-for-february/ |title=McKinley Wright locks up EuroLeague MVP for February |publisher=EuroLeague|date=2 March 2026|access-date=2 March 2026}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{NBA player statistics legend}}
===NBA=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2021}} | style="text-align:left;"| [[2021–22 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota]] | 5 || 0 || 3.8 || '''.667 '''|| '''.500''' || — || .0 || .6 || .0 || .0 || 1.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2022}} | style="text-align:left;"|[[2022–23 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas]] | '''27''' || '''1''' || '''12.4''' || .469 || .321 || '''.684''' || '''1.7''' || '''2.1''' || '''.3''' || '''.2''' || '''4.2''' |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 32 || 1 || 11.1 || .475 || .333 || .684 || 1.5 || 1.9 || .3 || .2 || 3.7 {{S-end}}
===College=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| [[2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2017–18]] | style="text-align:left;"| [[2017–18 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team|Colorado]] | 32 || 31 || 32.6 || .451 || .304 || .770 || 4.7 || '''5.5''' || 1.0 || '''.4''' || 14.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| [[2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2018–19]] | style="text-align:left;"| [[2018–19 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team|Colorado]] | '''35''' || '''35''' || 32.4 || '''.494''' || '''.365''' || .807 || 4.9 || 4.8 || '''1.1''' || .2 || 13.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| [[2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2019–20]] | style="text-align:left;"| [[2019–20 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team|Colorado]] | 32 || 32 || '''34.9''' || .448 || .336 || .792 || '''5.7''' || 5.0 || '''1.1''' || .3 || 14.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| [[2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2020–21]] | style="text-align:left;"| [[2020–21 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team|Colorado]] | 32 || 32 || 32.6 || .480 || .301 || '''.844''' || 4.3 || '''5.7''' || '''1.1''' || .3 || '''15.2''' |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 131 || 130 || 33.1 || .467 || .328 || .803 || 4.9 || 5.2 || 1.1 || .3 || 14.2 {{S-end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://cubuffs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/mckinley-wright-iv/15024 Colorado Buffaloes bio] * [https://www.aba-liga.com/player/4431/23/1/mckinley-wright-iv/ McKinley Wright IV] at aba-liga.com * {{commonscatinline}}
{{Dubai Basketball current roster}} {{ABA League MVPs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, McKinley IV}} [[Category:1998 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]] [[Category:ABA League players]] [[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Montenegro]] [[Category:American expatriate basketball people in the United Arab Emirates]] [[Category:American men's basketball players]] [[Category:Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball players]] [[Category:Dallas Mavericks players]] [[Category:Dubai Basketball players]] [[Category:Iowa Wolves players]] [[Category:KK Budućnost players]] [[Category:Minnesota Timberwolves players]] [[Category:People from Champlin, Minnesota]] [[Category:Point guards]] [[Category:Basketball players from Hennepin County, Minnesota]] [[Category:Texas Legends players]] [[Category:Undrafted NBA players]] [[Category:United States men's national basketball team players]] [[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]