Ish Wainright

Ishmail Carzell Wainright (born September 12, 1994) is an American-Ugandan professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also represents the senior Ugandan national team. He played college basketball for the Baylor Bears, as well as played football as a tight end. Wainright is the grandson of former NBA player Maurice King.

Ish Wainright
Wainright with the Toronto Raptors in the 2021 preseason
No. 23 – Portland Trail Blazers
PositionPower forward / small forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1994-09-12) September 12, 1994
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Ugandan
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeBaylor (2013–2017)
NBA draft2017: undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2019Nürnberg Falcons
2019–2020Rasta Vechta
2020–2021SIG Strasbourg
2021–2023Phoenix Suns
2023–presentPortland Trail Blazers
Career highlights and awards
  • Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2017)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

High school career

Wainright played two seasons for head coach Stu Vetter at Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland, helping the team to 19–5 record as senior in 2012–13. He earned 2013 All-MET honors after averaging 8.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists for Mustangs. He began his prep career at Raytown South High School in suburban Kansas City, where he averaged 13.6 points and 9.8 rebounds as a sophomore in 2010–11. A consensus top-75 recruit, he was ranked No. 28 in 2013 class by ESPN.com,[1] No. 51 by Scout.com, No. 52 by Rivals.com, and No. 62 by 247Sports.com.

College career

Wainright played four seasons of basketball for the Baylor Bears. He averaged 5.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game as a junior.[2] As a senior, Wainright averaged 5.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. He played one season of football after his basketball career, playing tight end. Wainright had four catches for 34 yards and two touchdowns.[3]

After finishing his career at Baylor, Wainright joined the Buffalo Bills of the NFL as an undrafted free agent, but he did not make the final roster.[4][5]

Professional career

Nürnberg Falcons (2018–2019)

Wainright returned to basketball and signed with Nürnberg Falcons BC on September 3, 2018.[6] He averaged 12.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

Rasta Vechta (2019–2020)

On July 2, 2019, Wainright signed with Rasta Vechta.[7] Wainright averaged 10.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assist and 1.8 steals per game.

SIG Strasbourg (2020–2021)

On June 17, 2020, he signed with SIG Strasbourg.[8]

Phoenix Suns (2021–2023)

On August 7, 2021, Wainright signed a two-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Toronto Raptors,[9] but was waived by the Raptors on October 17.[10] Five days later, he signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns.[11] Wainright later made his NBA debut on November 19 near the end of a win against the Dallas Mavericks, with him recording his first official points, rebounds, and assist two days later in a blowout win over the Denver Nuggets. On January 30, 2022, Wainright scored a then-season-high 10 points and put up two blocks in 20 minutes of action (including the entirety of the fourth quarter) in a 115–110 win over the San Antonio Spurs.[12] On April 6, he surpassed his season bests with career highs of 20 points and 8 rebounds in a close loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.[13] On April 10, the Suns converted his deal into a standard contract.[14]

Wainright joined the Suns' 2022 NBA Summer League roster.[15] On August 4, 2022, Wainright signed a two-way contract with the Suns.[16] After dealing with lower back pain and then the death of his father, pastor Calvin Wainright, Ishmail Wainright returned to action with the Suns on November 16, hitting a three-pointer in a 130–119 win over the defending champion Golden State Warriors.

On February 24, 2023, Wainwright signed a two-year, $2.5 million deal with the Suns, including a team option for the 2023–24 season. Wainwright previously operated under a two-way contract and was nearing the 50-game limit.[17] On March 5 against the Dallas Mavericks, coach Monty Williams made a decision late in the third quarter to substitute starter Josh Okogie, who had missed all of his eight three-point attempts, with Wainright. Although he had not played in the game up until that point, Wainwright made a significant impact, hitting four of his five three-point attempts, helping the Suns secure a 130–126 victory.[18]

On October 19, 2023, Wainwright was waived shortly before the 2023–24 season.[19]

Portland Trail Blazers (2023–present)

On October 21, 2023, Wainwright was claimed off waivers by the Portland Trail Blazers.[20]

National team career

Wainright plays for the Uganda men's national basketball team. As an American born in Kansas City, Missouri, he was convinced by Uganda coaches George Galanopoulous and Mike Schmitz to become a naturalized Ugandan to help build the team and increase employment opportunities.[21] Wainright scored 36 points and collected 13 rebounds in his national team debut in a win over Cape Verde in November 2020.[22] He was on the roster during AfroBasket 2021.[23]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Phoenix 4508.0.394.322.5831.2.3.4.12.4
2022–23 Phoenix 60215.3.370.329.8392.3.9.6.44.2
Career 105212.1.378.328.7671.8.6.6.33.4

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022 Phoenix 703.8.417.500—1.6.1.1.11.9
2023 Phoenix 603.5.250.250—.2.0.0.2.5
Career 1303.6.375.400—.9.1.1.21.2

Personal life

Wainright's father, Calvin Wainright, was born under his mother Marvine Wainright and raised by Marvine and her husband Alvin Joe, while his biological father was former NBA player Maurice King, making him a half-sibling to King's other siblings. During Calvin's adult life, up until his death on October 31, 2022, Calvin was a pastor and youth basketball coach in Kansas City, Missouri.[24][25][26] In 2020, he received the Kansas City People's Choice Awards Humanitarian Award for his work in the city.[25][27] Ish learned who his grandfather from his mother's side of the family was while he was playing for Baylor, which he honored in a match against Kansas University by going under the name of Ishmail King-Wainright throughout the game.[28]

Wainright also has a younger brother named Amaad that also previously played college basketball. Amaad played basketball collegiately at Trinity Valley Community College in the NJCAA, Kansas State University in the NCAA, and Louisiana State University Shreveport in the NAIA. During his only season in Kansas State, Amaad and the Wildcats made it to the 2018 NCAA tournament, going as far as the Elite 8 in their tournament run that season.[29]

See also

References
  1. "ESPN Recruiting BB". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  2. "Another talented Baylor team after another early NCAA exit". USA Today. Associated Press. October 26, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  3. Irving, Kyle (August 13, 2021). "Who is Ishmail Wainright? Fast facts on Toronto Raptors' latest reported signing". sportingnews.com. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  4. Zucker, Joseph (April 30, 2018). "Former Baylor Basketball Player Ishmail Wainright Signs Bills Contract". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  5. "Report: Raptors sign Wainwright to two-year deal - TSN.ca". TSN.ca. August 5, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  6. "Ishmail Wainright verstärkt Kader der Nürnberg Falcons". n-bc.de (in German). September 3, 2018. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  7. Carchia, Emiliano (July 2, 2019). "Rasta Vechta signs Steve Vasturia and Ishmail Wainright". Sportando. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  8. Skerletic, Dario (June 17, 2020). "Ishmail Wainright joins SIG Strasbourg". Sportando. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  9. Loung, Steven [@loung_s] (August 8, 2021). "The Raptors have made the signings of Justin Champagnie and Ishmail Wainright official. t.co/heQpomYNQn" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  10. Toronto Raptors [@Raptors] (October 17, 2021). "Official: We've waived forward Ish Wainright t.co/hWw8G9zqTk" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  11. Harvey, Sam (October 22, 2021). "SUNS SIGN ISH WAINRIGHT". NBA.com. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  12. Solomon, Ariebi (January 31, 2022). "NBA: Ishmail Wainwright's career-high 10 points helps Phoenix Suns rally past San Antonio Spurs". UgSports.net. Archived from the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  13. "Suns vs Clippers, April 6, 2022". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  14. Phoenix Suns [@Suns] (April 10, 2022). "Official: Suns have converted the two-way contract of Ish Wainright into a standard NBA contract. t.co/BJUnWbGvkQ" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  15. "Phoenix Suns 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster | NBA.com". NBA.com. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  16. Phoenix Suns [@Suns] (August 4, 2022). "Pen to paper ✍️ t.co/wRNr5uVSef" (Tweet). Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  17. "Suns' Ish Wainright: Inks new deal with Phoenix". CBSSports.com. February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  18. Haller, Doug; Cato, Tim (March 5, 2023). "Kevin Durant hits game winner, drops 37 points as Suns edge Mavericks on road". TheAthletic.com. The Athletic. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  19. "Suns waive Ish Wainright as roster cap deadline looms". ArizonaSports.com. October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  20. "Trail Blazers Claim Ish Wainright Off Waivers". NBA.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  21. Murphy, Blake (August 30, 2021). "Raptors' Ishmail Wainright is a walking culture-builder: 'Everyone wants to cheer for a guy like that'". The Athletic. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  22. Ndyamuhaki, Emanzi (August 7, 2021). "What next for Wainright with the Silverbacks?". Daily Monitor. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  23. "Uganda at the FIBA AfroBasket 2021". FIBA.basketball.
  24. Wainright, Ish [@Wainright24] (November 13, 2022). "Everyone's thoughtful words of condolence have acted as a source of strength for me during this difficult time, and I am grateful for you all. I am going to miss my Popz, my OG, my Superman, my Twin , and now my Guardian Angel. I love you and I miss you CCW 💙🕊️ t.co/ZGKuJsK6zm" (Tweet). Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  25. Medina, David; Kaut, Steve (October 31, 2022). "Beloved Kansas City basketball coach Calvin Wainright dies". kshb.com. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  26. "Obituary for Pastor Calvin C. Wainright | Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapels".
  27. The Mayor of Kansas City, Mo [@RayThaJerk] (August 6, 2020). "From Calvin Wainright- The 2nd Annual Kansas City People's Choice Awards Humanitarian Award recipient. Well deserved coach thank you @KCPCAwards t.co/q4LEYEbY9W" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  28. https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2017-02-01/baylor-basketball-ishmail-wainright-honors-late-grandfather
  29. Murphy, Blake (August 30, 2021). "Raptors' Ishmail Wainright is a walking culture-builder: 'Everyone wants to cheer for a guy like that'". The Athletic. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
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