This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Countless times over the past two years, Delon Wright would come to Vivint Smart Home Arena, sit in the stands and watch the Utah Jazz play.
His perspective was different then. He was playing for the Utah Utes, on his way to an All-American collegiate career, knowing his time to run out of the tunnel in a pro arena could arise in the coming years.
Wednesday night proved to be his time.
A 6-foot-5 point guard, Wright made his return to Salt Lake City as an NBA player. A first-round pick of the Toronto Raptors this summer, he's realized his dream.
Now, he has to make the dream work.
"The NBA is full of men," Wright said. "That's my biggest adjustment, trying to stay ready and trying to adjust to having a different role. That's the main thing right now, trying to get ready for the future."
The Utah Jazz defeated Wright's Raptors 93-89 on Wednesday night by scoring 34 fourth-quarter points and erasing a seven-point deficit. Wright, however, never moved from the bench. He's the third point guard on coach Dwane Casey's depth chart, stuck behind all-star Kyle Lowry and one of the best back-up points in the league in Cory Joseph.
The Raptors really like him. Casey said he loves Wright's versatility, his defense, his ability to run the offense and his maturity — all attributes that made him a star at Utah. But Casey's depth chart has room for only two playmakers, and it's a numbers game for Wright.
"He just needs experience," Casey said. "He needs to keep living. Right now, he's playing behind an all-star point guard, but he has all that you need to be an excellent NBA player. He's got great instincts, he's got size and he has the defensive ability. He's just got to stay ready."
Most teams send rookies who aren't commanding playing time down to the D-League to get them repetition and experience. But the Raptors are keeping Wright because they feel he will develop faster with the big club. They also need to keep a third point guard, in case Lowry or Joseph should suffer injury.
Wright's played a total of 10 minutes and is still looking for his first NBA point this season. His games come before games, pre-game workouts and such. He stays behind after each practice and puts up shots. He consults with Lowry and Joseph on things he needs to do to be successful. And of course, he talks to his older brother Dorell Wright, who has played in the league for a decade, constantly. The younger Wright is patient. He knows his time will come. He just doesn't know when. But for now, he stays ready.
"It's just about staying in a rhythm and staying sharp," Wright said. "This has all just been a learning process."
Twitter: @tjonessltrib —
A closer look
Delon Wright | 6-5 | 190 pounds
• Was a first-round draft pick (No. 20) of the Toronto Raptors this past summer.
• Was an All-American as a collegian at Utah. He led the Utes to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 last season
• Is the third point guard behind Kyle Lowry and Cory Joseph. Has played 10 minutes this season and has yet to score.