Michael Wright, 35, was found dead of a head wound inside his Lexus SUV in Midwood about 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
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His body was sprawled in the backseat covered with garbage bags, the NY Daily News reported.
Michael Wright, a former forward for the University of Arizona, died Tuesday night at age 35.
Born in Chicago, the 6-foot-8 Wright played prep ball at highly-regarded Windy City power Farragut Academy – spending his freshman campaign alongside Kevin Garnett – and was later a collegiate star at Arizona, reaching the National Championship Game in 2001 with a Wildcats squad that also included future pros Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson, and Luke Walton. Wright played 14 seasons overseas, most recently this year for Cholet Basket in France.
A family member told the Chicago Sun-Times that it doesn’t appear Wright was the victim of foul play. “He wasn’t planning on retiring”. I, officials said. The vehicle had been sitting on the street since Sunday, neighbors said.
Memphis coach Josh Pastner, who was close to him as a player and an undergraduate assistant coach during Wright’s years with the Wildcats, said via text message that he was saddeened by the news. Wright, who was drafted 39th overall by the Knicks in 2001, was initially reported missing by his NJ roommate two days earlier.
When cops received the missing man’s license plate, an NYPD vehicle with a license plate reader found the vehicle in Brooklyn, cops said.
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The NYC Medical Examiner will determine Wright’s official cause of death.
