Micheal Wright plans to bring some NBA-style finesse to the Special Olympics World Summer Games this spring.
Wright is the only Canadian out of 12 Special Olympics athletes competing in a Unified Sports game with players from the NBA and WNBA on Friday as part of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 all-star weekend in Charlotte, N.C.
Wright, from Mississauga, Ont., wants to meet Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and ask them for advice ahead of the Special Olympics World Games.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what IB次元官网网址檓 hoping for, to take some tips and bring it to the worlds and probably perfecting it,B次元官网网址� said Wright. B次元官网网址淣ot that what they do isnB次元官网网址檛 100 per cent perfect, but I want to make it my own.B次元官网网址�
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The 26-year-old point guard helped the Mississauga Storm win the national championship earlier this year. The team will represent Canada at the Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, starting on March 14.
The Special Olympics World Games is an international sporting competition for athletes with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Getting to play with professional basketball players and represent Canada internationally in the same year has been a thrilling experience for Wright.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an honour and amazing that IB次元官网网址檓 the only Canadian at the all-star weekend,B次元官网网址� said Wright. B次元官网网址淚 thought there would be two, maybe three, other Canadians. But itB次元官网网址檚 amazing and itB次元官网网址檚 an honour and I really appreciate it.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a little nervous to go to Abu Dhabi and see who weB次元官网网址檙e going to be playing against.B次元官网网址�
WrightB次元官网网址檚 trip to the NBA all-star weekend came together quickly. He was approached by coach Wayne Meyer after a Storm practice with the opportunity and within 24 hours they had put together a YouTube video and written an essay with the help of his aunt Kimberly Wright, who will accompany him to Charlotte.
A week later, Micheal Wright got a call at home telling him that heB次元官网网址檇 been selected for the Unified Game. After telling his cousin and calling his aunt to spread the good news Wright went to his bedroom to lie down and absorb what was happening.
B次元官网网址淚 had to take a moment for myself and breathe. It was something,B次元官网网址� said Wright. B次元官网网址淚 honestly panicked, I was so happy. My cousin was at home too and she was starting to wonder what was going on. My family is just really happy for me.B次元官网网址�
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Meyer feels that the decision to nominate Wright to go to the NBA all-star weekend was the right choice, especially after seeing how well the Special Olympics athlete has handled the extra training and responsibilities associated with the trip. More than anything, Meyer is impressed by WrightB次元官网网址檚 humility.
B次元官网网址淭he great thing about it is even with his teammates on the Storm, he doesnB次元官网网址檛 have that bragging mentality,B次元官网网址� said Meyer. B次元官网网址淓ven at practices he doesnB次元官网网址檛 really talk much about it, but you know itB次元官网网址檚 there. When we talk about it, the excitementB次元官网网址檚 there.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 the perfect athlete to be sending down (to Charlotte). IB次元官网网址檓 proud of him, IB次元官网网址檓 happy for his aunt, itB次元官网网址檚 a once-in-a-lifetime moment.B次元官网网址�
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
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