Lorenzen Wright, Ex-NBA Player, Found Dead

(CBS/AP)  Relatives and friends of Lorenzen Wright gathered Wednesday and grieved for the former NBA player who has been missing for 10 days, as police investigated the discovery of a man's body outside of Memphis.

Wright's uncle, Curtis Wright, told The Associated Press that police called the player's father, Herb Wright, Wednesday afternoon with the news he had died.

Sgt. Alyssa Macon-Moore of the Memphis Police Department wrote in an e-mail to the AP that police were investigating the death of an unidentified man beside a wooded area about 15 miles south of downtown Memphis. Asked if the man was Wright, she wrote they could not confirm the victim's identity Wednesday night.

However, The Commercial Appeal cited a police source as identifying the body as Wright's.

The family issued a statement through a cousin of Lorenzen Wright, Camella Logan: "Lorenzen's family has come together to mourn his loss and honor his legacy. We appreciate your thoughts, prayers and condolences as they are comforting at this very difficult time. Additionally, we ask that you please respect our privacy as we try to cope with his sudden loss."

Wright's mother, Deborah Marion, arrived at the scene Wednesday night with a handful of family members. She crossed the crime scene tape and tried to talk to police when she was told to move back. She sat in a TV van before returning to the tape. Two officers then let her through.

The distraught Marion then started running down the road toward the crime scene before being stopped by an officer. She spoke with officers, then walked back past reporters without speaking straight to a van.

The 34-year-old Wright was last seen July 18 when he was expected to fly out of town. His family filed a missing person report July 22.

CBS News affiliate WREG-TV in Memphis reports that Wright was having financial problems. His home in Atlanta was foreclosed, WREG reports.

More Wright Coverage

Ex-NBA Player Lorenzen Wright Found Dead, Uncle Says
Family of Missing Ex-NBA Player Fears Foul Play

Wright played 13 years in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and most recently the Cleveland Cavaliers with 17 games in the 2008-09 season. Wright left the University of Memphis early for the NBA, and the Clippers made him a lottery pick with the No. 7 selection overall.

He averaged 8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 778 career games.

By nightfall, nearly 200 people had visited the road blocked off by police while TV news helicopters showed investigators scouring the grounds for evidence. Police brought in a mobile command center that further blocked off the scene.

Former NBA star Penny Hardaway, who played at Memphis two years before Wright, said he heard the news from a friend and went to the scene near where the body was found.

"I cried. The emotions hit me immediately. It's just sad because we lost a good person and a brother," Hardaway said.

Elliot Perry, another friend and former Memphis player, also was at the scene. Wendy Wilson, who once worked as Wright's personal assistant, also was there and said Wright often used the road police had cordoned off as a shortcut to his mother's house.

"He was a good person. He did not deserve to die this way. God is not pleased with this," Wilson said.

Memphis Grizzlies majority owner Michael Heisley issued a statement late Wednesday saying, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Lorenzen Wright. We lost a member of the Grizzlies family. Lorenzen delighted fans on the court with his passion and off the court with his generosity in a Memphis community that watched him grow throughout his playing career ..."

[mari1963]

A good person? The only legacy this guy is leaving behind is a life full of mistakes! He was involved with crime. He had six children that it doesn't sound like he took care of. He blew all his money. You have got to be kidding me! This man sounds very troubled to me.

[raydernation]

This is a tragedy, the police say they don't suspect foul play. That means, he may have done himself. Which makes this more tragic. Some of these posts are questioning how could his home get foreclosed on - him being a NBA star making millions a year. Its rare but, it happens.

One of you pointed out how mega lottery winners wind up bankrupt after 3 years. See, the thing is some peoples personalities are such that they can't beat back, and l mean that literally "beat back" all the parasites who come after them, mainly, unfortunately, family members. They need to STOP! They come with those puppy dog eyes, those pitiful stories, and wind up soaking these peole for all its worth.
I remember listening to Steve Harvey once say when he hit it big on TV he saw right off what was happening with the family members - hitting him up big time for money. So he said he got himself a answering service to answer all his calls - every evening he would listen to the calls, all the ones that started off saying, " yo holler at me something done come up" he said he wouldn't call them back for two weeks. And every time he said he would call they would always say, l got into a bind and needed to make a loan, but, l got it stratighened out. Get the point. Steve knew ok it may be serious, but you will figure out how to solve it on your own. Very smart.

I don't think this guy was able to say no. The embarrasment of having his home foreclosed after making millions may have been to much to bear, pressure will break a water pipe. Michael Jackson went thru the same thing with those leeches, but some celebs are strong willed - like Madonna - they can;t come at her like that, and a whole lot others you have to amintain control, its that simple, ok you pulled me out the way of a speeding car when we were 10 yrs old, thank you! You helped me with my science project in the 11th grade, thank you! Dpon't allow family people and others brow beat you down and try and make you feel guilty, you owe them nothing. Its that simple. Give all of them a one time gift and let that be known thats it, thats all.

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money06]

Life lessons from Herm Edwards. Although he was addressing football quarterbacks, it's applicable to a broader audience than even athletes.

Paraphrasing (heard it on the radio yesterday)

1. Never lose your passion for the game. Keep the glean in your eye similar to Brett Farve.
2. Nothing good happens after 12 o'clock. (Hey Roethlesberger, you listenin'?)
3. One of everything is enough. One house, car, bling, girl or wife.

Sports careers don't last forever and journeymen role players ain't rock stars.

[dyulyur]

It?s a terrible tragedy that Lorenzen Wright has passed away. You can help remember him by contributing to his memorial website at http://lorenzenwright.people2remember.com/

[formrusmcsgt]

Better with a ball than money, obviously....

[cmsmik]

Awful story! I'm curious though, how does an NBA player of 13 years have a home foreclosed? I assume he made a substantial amount of money.

[askagain]

He may have made a lot of money. How he spent his money may be the key to his financial problems. Many athletes have been know to invest poorly or burn through their savings. Surveys show that lottery winners are often broke after three years. Earning money and holding onto money are two different things.

[book_of_wally]

Only stars make the big money, the rest of them make about 100K for a full season.

[tedg22]

May God bless his family, rest in peace Lorenzen.