A look back at Antoine Wright

[NOMAM]

He came out of college with a reputation as a shooter.

His DraftExpress profile compares him to Ray Allen.
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Antoin...125/playerblog/

He shot 45% from 3 and 50% overall in his last season in college.

And the Nets drafted him because of his supposed shooting ability.

But he turned into a bust for the Nets. The one thing he was mainly drafted for he couldn't do well, which was shoot the ball.

What was the problem with Wright?

It seemed like he was a guy that worked on his game and tried to improve. He's 6'7 and has decent athletic ability. He is a decent defender also. So what was holding Wright back from turning into a very good role player and maybe even a regular starter?

And what can we learn from what was wrong with Wright and avoid another Wright type drafting from this draft?

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/2005-N...ft-Grades-1029/
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Nets were targeting Antoine Wright all along in this draft, and were counting their lucky stars when they saw that he finally fell out of the lottery. Wright will immediately be considered their best shooter and one of their best defenders on the team right off the bat, and should contribute immediately playing alongside Kidd, Carter and Jefferson, as New Jersey is a team that is severely lacking in depth.</div>

Granger picked at 17.

It still hurts.

 

[ghoti]

I think you capped this and I posted it on YouTube for just this occasion.


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[NOMAM]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 01:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think you capped this and I posted it on YouTube for just this occasion.


<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value=""></param><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>

But why didn't Wright's game from college develop in the NBA? What was holding Wright back?

If he just turned into an Anthony Parker type player...

I'm looking at guys like BrandonRush, who shot well from deep in college and can also defend, but then I think back to Wright and wonder...

 

[AGGiE]

http://www.realgm.com/src_feature_article/...aft_version_30/

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>7.) Toronto Raptors : Antoine Wright, SG, Texas A&M, Jr.

Wright’s stock has soared during the workout stages, showing teams the full potential he has showed in glimpses as an Aggie. One executive said that he feels that Green will only be worth a Top 3 pick if he becomes as good as Wright is right now. If this were the case, Raptor fans would definitely forget about the Vinsanity era and cheer for the Wright era. He possesses all the tools necessary to succeed in the NBA, but has been too inconsistent, which in turn has been his main weakness. But because of these positive workouts, he has shown that he is past that stage and Toronto would be very blessed to get such a promising baller who can step in and contribute while still having some room to grow.</div>

 

[kdub]

Low confidence, not athletic enough to blow by shorter players, too skinny/not strong enough to muscle with bigger players.

 

[ghoti]

He didn't develop at all.

His ball handling, shooting, passing, penetration, mid-range game, first step and athleticism are all still below average for a SG.

He is a decent perimeter defender and has good size. He's also a decent rebounder.

He needs to learn to handle the ball better and try to become a big PG like Keyon Dooling. His defense could make him useful in that role.

 

[Jizzy]

nothing went wrong, he was a bust and we fucked up not taking granger

 

[J-HoAgZ]

Honestly, I think the only think holding him back was his confidence and mental ability. He showed he has skills but even when he had a great night like at the beginning of the season when he dropped 20somethin he told the media "Don't expect the same numbers, just effort." I think he was way too hesitant to step up with Kidd, Vince, and RJ around. Another reason I think that is b/c he played good Defense for us but didn't do much on the offensive end, which once again keeps him out of the spotlight.

 

[ghoti]

This "confidence" thing is bullshit.

The reason he doesn't have confidence is because all of his skills are poor.

He has plenty of confidence on defense where he actually can compete on the NBA level.

 

[jirohkanzaki]

antoine is still not a bad pickup for the minimum...but there are better players available...

he can still develop into a contributor since after 3 years, he knows where he stands...he will not be an offensive threat like he was in college and will not be a star...he should concentrate on his shooting mechanics and shoot hundreds of 3s from the corners and develop a nasty attitude in defense ala bruce bowen and james posey.

 

[Netted]

I think the NBA game is too fast for him. That simple.

He excelled in workouts because they weren't at NBA game speed.

 

[J-HoAgZ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 10:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This "confidence" thing is bullshit.

The reason he doesn't have confidence is because all of his skills are poor.

He has plenty of confidence on defense where he actually can compete on the NBA level.</div>
B/c there is no spotlight on D. You obviously haven't played legit ball.

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-HoAgZ @ Jun 6 2008, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 10:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This "confidence" thing is bullshit.

The reason he doesn't have confidence is because all of his skills are poor.

He has plenty of confidence on defense where he actually can compete on the NBA level.</div>
B/c there is no spotlight on D. You obviously haven't played legit ball.
</div>

LOL @ your Ad Hominem. How douchey!

I guess if you play with a bunch of guys who's skills are a lot better than yours you are brimming with confidence, right Mr. NBA player?

I'm sure in "legit ball" the worst players are always hucking up shots and talking shit and that makes them better.

 

[J-HoAgZ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-HoAgZ @ Jun 6 2008, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 10:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This "confidence" thing is bullshit.

The reason he doesn't have confidence is because all of his skills are poor.

He has plenty of confidence on defense where he actually can compete on the NBA level.</div>
B/c there is no spotlight on D. You obviously haven't played legit ball.
</div>

LOL @ your Ad Hominem. How douchey!

I guess if you play with a bunch of guys who's skills are a lot better than yours you are brimming with confidence, right Mr. NBA player?

I'm sure in "legit ball" the worst players are always hucking up shots and talking shit and that makes them better.
</div>
umm.. no. chill i wasn't jumpin on you but your wrong. I guess you felt the need to defend yourself b/c you know you got cut every year and can't ball for shit. I'm jp but seriously, I see you're a Yankee fan and I do recall Yogi Berra who was a pretty decent player say "Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical." It's the same for most sports. Trust me confidence is more important than anything in basketball

 

[JCB]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-HoAgZ @ Jun 6 2008, 07:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-HoAgZ @ Jun 6 2008, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 10:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This "confidence" thing is bullshit.

The reason he doesn't have confidence is because all of his skills are poor.

He has plenty of confidence on defense where he actually can compete on the NBA level.</div>
B/c there is no spotlight on D. You obviously haven't played legit ball.
</div>

LOL @ your Ad Hominem. How douchey!

I guess if you play with a bunch of guys who's skills are a lot better than yours you are brimming with confidence, right Mr. NBA player?

I'm sure in "legit ball" the worst players are always hucking up shots and talking shit and that makes them better.
</div>
umm.. no. chill i wasn't jumpin on you but your wrong. I guess you felt the need to defend yourself b/c you know you got cut every year and can't ball for shit. I'm jp but seriously, I see you're a Yankee fan and I do recall Yogi Berra who was a pretty decent player say "Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical." It's the same for most sports. Trust me confidence is more important than anything in basketball
</div>

I laughed.

 

[Kid Chocolate]

LOL!!!! I see you're a Yankees fan. LOL!!!!

 

[ghoti]

It's my experience that confidence comes mainly from knowing wtf you are doing in the first place.
The worst kind of person to work with is someone who is genuinely confident and patently incompetent.
If you suck, no amount of confidence will help you.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-HoAgZ @ Jun 6 2008, 07:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-HoAgZ @ Jun 6 2008, 12:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 10:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This "confidence" thing is bullshit.

The reason he doesn't have confidence is because all of his skills are poor.

He has plenty of confidence on defense where he actually can compete on the NBA level.</div>
B/c there is no spotlight on D. You obviously haven't played legit ball.
</div>

LOL @ your Ad Hominem. How douchey!

I guess if you play with a bunch of guys who's skills are a lot better than yours you are brimming with confidence, right Mr. NBA player?

I'm sure in "legit ball" the worst players are always hucking up shots and talking shit and that makes them better.
</div>
umm.. no. chill i wasn't jumpin on you but your wrong. I guess you felt the need to defend yourself b/c you know you got cut every year and can't ball for shit. I'm jp but seriously, I see you're a Yankee fan and I do recall Yogi Berra who was a pretty decent player say "Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical." It's the same for most sports. Trust me confidence is more important than anything in basketball
</div>
What tipped you off? The avatar?

 

[J-HoAgZ]

Lol ok now I see that he has a Mets thing in his sig but I thought his avitar was like a Yankee catcher or somethin idk I don't really follow baseball. But obviously if you suck your not gonna have any confidence. When when you do have all the talent like Wright did, it's all about the confidence.

Ok yea now I see the Piazza quote and everythin my bad

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-HoAgZ @ Jun 6 2008, 10:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lol ok now I see that he has a Mets thing in his sig but I thought his avitar was like a Yankee catcher or somethin idk I don't really follow baseball. But obviously if you suck your not gonna have any confidence. When when you do have all the talent like Wright did, it's all about the confidence.

Ok yea now I see the Piazza quote and everythin my bad

</div>

That's what I'm saying, he didn't have talent!

I understand that when a quiet guy like Wright comes to the gym on the first day and sees Vince Carter and Jason Kidd, he's going to be a little intimidated, but after three years that's over.

At that point he knows exactly what he's supposed to do and how he can help the team and he just couldn't do those things.

I still think he can make a roster and maybe develop enough to hang around, but not as a shooting guard. He is just too slow and not athletic enough to take contact and finish and he's a baaaaad shooter.

I've seen him do a decent job at PG, and at 6'7" he can take the pressure off an undersized scoring guard like Ellis or Ben Gordon by handling tough defensive matchups. Kind of what Keyon Dooling does for Jameer Nelson.

 

[gambitnut]

This thread reminds me of another player who happens to be on the Nets right now, Trenton Hassell. He was known as a scorer who couldn't defend when he came out of college, right? In the NBA, he's been a defender who can't shoot. I have no idea why those two players totally changed their games in the NBA to the exact opposite of what they were in college.

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 10:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-HoAgZ @ Jun 6 2008, 10:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lol ok now I see that he has a Mets thing in his sig but I thought his avitar was like a Yankee catcher or somethin idk I don't really follow baseball. But obviously if you suck your not gonna have any confidence. When when you do have all the talent like Wright did, it's all about the confidence.

Ok yea now I see the Piazza quote and everythin my bad

</div>

That's what I'm saying, he didn't have talent!

I understand that when a quiet guy like Wright comes to the gym on the first day and sees Vince Carter and Jason Kidd, he's going to be a little intimidated, but after three years that's over.

At that point he knows exactly what he's supposed to do and how he can help the team and he just couldn't do those things.

I still think he can make a roster and maybe develop enough to hang around, but not as a shooting guard. He is just too slow and not athletic enough to take contact and finish and he's a baaaaad shooter.

I've seen him do a decent job at PG, and at 6'7" he can take the pressure off an undersized scoring guard like Ellis or Ben Gordon by handling tough defensive matchups. Kind of what Keyon Dooling does for Jameer Nelson.
</div>

I remember asking Dave D. what he thought of Antoine coming off the bench as a PG. He said something about not being able to get the ball over half court....

 

[NOMAM]

Would anyone want to bring Wright back next season if they could get him for the minimum?

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NOMAM @ Jun 7 2008, 12:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Would anyone want to bring Wright back next season if they could get him for the minimum?</div>

I'd rather gamble on an undrafted FA

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NOMAM @ Jun 7 2008, 12:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Would anyone want to bring Wright back next season if they could get him for the minimum?</div>

I'd pass. They could do more with the roster spot, IMO.

 

[SportsTicker]

He didn't take things seriously at the beginning of his career either. People complained Frank didnt play him. But as one insider noted, Wright played in 39 games his rookie year: 3 before Jeff McInnis left the team, 36 after. He partied with McInnis.

He was also way overhyped after the draft. Stefanski compared him to Allan Houston, Dick Vitale compared him to Dwyane Wade!! He played poorly in the summer league.

I agree with ghoti on the confidence thing. Confidence comes with success, but success comes with talent and talent comes with hard work. He didnt work that hard his first year.

Wright wants to play in Dallas.

 

[J-HoAgZ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 09:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-HoAgZ @ Jun 6 2008, 10:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lol ok now I see that he has a Mets thing in his sig but I thought his avitar was like a Yankee catcher or somethin idk I don't really follow baseball. But obviously if you suck your not gonna have any confidence. When when you do have all the talent like Wright did, it's all about the confidence.

Ok yea now I see the Piazza quote and everythin my bad

</div>

That's what I'm saying, he didn't have talent!

I understand that when a quiet guy like Wright comes to the gym on the first day and sees Vince Carter and Jason Kidd, he's going to be a little intimidated, but after three years that's over.

At that point he knows exactly what he's supposed to do and how he can help the team and he just couldn't do those things.

I still think he can make a roster and maybe develop enough to hang around, but not as a shooting guard. He is just too slow and not athletic enough to take contact and finish and he's a baaaaad shooter.

I've seen him do a decent job at PG, and at 6'7" he can take the pressure off an undersized scoring guard like Ellis or Ben Gordon by handling tough defensive matchups. Kind of what Keyon Dooling does for Jameer Nelson.
</div>
aight agree to disagree then I didn't realize you were saying he has no talent period. Imo he isn't the greatest player, but has enough talent to be a quality role player he's just not there mentally.

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-HoAgZ @ Jun 7 2008, 11:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jun 6 2008, 09:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J-HoAgZ @ Jun 6 2008, 10:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lol ok now I see that he has a Mets thing in his sig but I thought his avitar was like a Yankee catcher or somethin idk I don't really follow baseball. But obviously if you suck your not gonna have any confidence. When when you do have all the talent like Wright did, it's all about the confidence.

Ok yea now I see the Piazza quote and everythin my bad

</div>

That's what I'm saying, he didn't have talent!

I understand that when a quiet guy like Wright comes to the gym on the first day and sees Vince Carter and Jason Kidd, he's going to be a little intimidated, but after three years that's over.

At that point he knows exactly what he's supposed to do and how he can help the team and he just couldn't do those things.

I still think he can make a roster and maybe develop enough to hang around, but not as a shooting guard. He is just too slow and not athletic enough to take contact and finish and he's a baaaaad shooter.

I've seen him do a decent job at PG, and at 6'7" he can take the pressure off an undersized scoring guard like Ellis or Ben Gordon by handling tough defensive matchups. Kind of what Keyon Dooling does for Jameer Nelson.
</div>
aight agree to disagree then I didn't realize you were saying he has no talent period. Imo he isn't the greatest player, but has enough talent to be a quality role player he's just not there mentally.
</div>

I would have agreed with you after his rookie year, but we just spent an additional two years watching him brick almost every wide open shot, fail to draw contact, get shut down by smaller defenders, get his shot blocked, blow layups and dunks.

He didn't get better in his third year, where he had to feel at least a little more comfortable. He played 25 MPG. That's a big role. He shot 26% from three as opposed to 33% the previous year.

I agree that he didn't show mental toughness and could have done more to improve his offensive game, but how much do you think is really there? He's just so slow and mechanical. He looks like he's playing a notch slower than everyone else. It takes him forever to make a decision. Every shot he took for his whole career was wide open. Who in his right mind would bother to guard him?

And this is a player I like. At least he figured out that he would be out of the league if he had to rely on his offense to keep him there. He made himself valuable by giving good effort on defense. You always hear that guys have the "tools" to play good defense (which means they currently suck on defense). This guy actually learned to use his tools and got 25 MPG by filling a void the Nets couldn't otherwise fill. I think that was admirable. It's also a sign that he had confidence in the abilities that he actually developed.

 

[Mr. Boe]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NOMAM @ Jun 6 2008, 01:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>A look back at Antoine Wright</div>
Why?

 

[zєяσ]

A bigger question: Why cant we get Hassan Adams back just for fun? He impressed me, especially when he showed he had improved his jumpshot and ball-handling in summer league. Granted it was summer league but it seems he had made progress in many areas that he needed to improve on.