As my career goes on, I’ll be able to show I can do more. – Delon Wright
Delon Wright is thrilled to be headed north of the border.
The Toronto Raptors introduced the former Utah guard Friday afternoon after selecting him with the No. 20 overall pick during Thursday’s NBA draft.
“This was a place I wanted to be,” Wright told SportsNet 590’s Brady and Walker after his introduction. “I think it’s a real great market. I’m still getting facts about it. They say it’s like a top three biggest market in the NBA. It’s a good thing, we’ll get a lot of recognition.”
Wright might get an opportunity to get onto the court quickly, too. The Raptors dealt backup point guard Greivis Vasquez to Milwaukee during the draft. The reports of the trade began to surface before Toronto drafted Wright.
Vasquez averaged more than 20 minutes per game last season but struggled defensively. Wright, on the other hand, comes in with praise as a defensive player. It’s a role that he’s ready for, but added that he’s more than capable of playing more than defense.
“As my career goes on, I’ll be able to show I can do more,” he said.
Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak went on TSN 1050 in Toronto earlier in the day and said he expects Wright’s maturity will help him get onto the court quicker than most rookies around him.
“It’s similar to what happened here at Utah,” Krystkowiak said. “He showed up out of JUCO and he was ready to play right away. I think the same thing is going to happen in Toronto, where he’s not going to have much of a waiting period.”
Wright will keep the No. 55 jersey number he wore in Utah at the next level.
Wright said he was told that he’d fall into the No. 18 pick to No. 22 pick range in the draft. “Once it got to that area, I kind of started to get anxious,” he said.
Krystkowiak, one of more than 200 invited guests at a draft party set up by Wright’s older brother and Portland guard Dorell Wright, said it was a memorable night.
"The place went up in arms," he said. "I can tell you the folks in Toronto, Raptors fans in Canada in general — obviously I’m biased — got themselves a special person and a special player. I can’t wait to watch him succeed at the next level."