Former Arizona Wildcats star and New York Knicks draft pick Michael Wright was found dead on Tuesday in Brooklyn, and police are investigating what they believe is a possible homicide.
Wright, 35, was found dead sprawled out in the back of his Lexus SUV Tuesday around 11:00 am, according to the New York Daily News. His body was covered in black trash bags, and the Daily News reports he died of a head wound.
Police are investigating and believe Wright may have been killed by a man he met on the gay dating app, Grindr.
“We are extremely saddened to hear about this tragedy and our thoughts are with the Michael Wright ‘s family and friends. We treat all reports of crime very seriously and, if contacted by authorities, will fully cooperate,” a Grindr spokesperson said to Larry Brown Sports in a statement.
Wright’s roommates at a home in New Jersey reported him missing on Sunday. Neighbors where Wright’s car was found say the car had been on the street since Sunday.
Wright was from Chicago and played on a legendary high school basketball team at Farragut Academy along with Kevin Garnett as well as Willie Farley and Ronnie Fields. He played at Arizona from 1998-2001 and was a key member of the team that lost to Duke in the 2001 championship game. That Wildcats team was loaded with talented players such as Richard Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas and Luke Walton, in addition to Wright, who was a rebounding machine.
Wright was a second-round pick by the Knicks but never made the team’s roster. He enjoyed a lengthy career overseas, mostly in Turkey.
