LAS VEGAS — Last Friday, Champlin Park's McKinley Wright IV took the floor at Target Center in front of a crowd at the Timberwolves' Summer League Jam practice.
Four years had passed since Wright was in the same setting, when he played his final game as a high school senior — a 60-54 loss to Tre Jones and Apple Valley in the state championship.
To underscore the full circle nature of Wright's young career, his first competitive action in a Wolves uniform came Monday against Jones and San Antonio, with the Wolves prevailing 91-89.
Having teams pass you over in the NBA draft isn't always a bad thing, and in Wright's case, he was able to call his shot at where he signed a contract after he said he and his agency steered teams away from picking him in the second round.