The AdmiralBet ABA League season so far has been dominated by the Buducnost Voli basketball team. After finishing the regular season in first place with 26 wins and four losses, the “blues” defeated Mega at the start of the quarterfinals and took a step towards the semifinals.
Between the regular season and the playoffs, the ABA League presented awards to the best players of this season. The trophy for the best coach, as expected and deservedly, was won by the strategist of Buducnost Andrej Žakelj, while the Most Valuable Player (MVP) was declared McKinley Wright, who, along with Kenan Kamenjaš, was also selected to the ideal five of the competition. The ABA season is therefore in "blue and white" colors, but the real thing, which is the fight for the title, is yet to come.
And McKinley Wright is spending his second season in Buducnost, but also his second in Europe, because he arrived in Podgorica from Dallas in the summer of 2023. From his first season to today, the 26-year-old point guard has gone from a tragedian to a leader and hero. And while last season, in uncertain endings and decisive moments, he was often inaccurate, this season Wright is the “on-call” match-winner. And that is the quality of great players, they don't give up when things don't go their way, they won't give up right away, but will keep trying. And this season, Wright got it all back.
"I feel great. I'm blessed, my dream has come true. I worked hard last summer to be where I am now. It paid off, I feel good. I expected a good season. I prepared well, trained well, I believed that this could happen. I believed in myself, in the hard work last summer. Of course, I believed in my teammates, the coaching staff, the entire organization. Everything went well," Wright commented to "Vijesti" about winning the MVP award.
The derbies this season are particularly noteworthy - Wright was great in every match, and he excelled against Red Star and Partizan, direct rivals for the top of the table.
"Of course I'm more motivated in those games. There are a lot of American basketball players on those teams, and I grew up in America, I've played against some of them before. I love the atmosphere in those games, the preparation, the environments they play in," explained Wright.
I STAYED BECAUSE OF YOGI
Wright extended his contract last summer and stayed in Podgorica. It turned out to be a great decision for both parties, and the “culprit” for such an epilogue was one of the Buducnost players.
When asked why he decided to stay in the capital of Montenegro last summer, Wright replied:
"Yogi Ferrell," McKinley said with a smile, then explained.
"Jogi called me, we talked. He told me how much I would progress if I stayed. He told me about Rashid Sulajmon, said he would come to Podgorica too, he told me they were friends. In the end, Jogi stayed at Buducnost. So I owe him a lot for being here."
McKinley is spending his second season in Europe, and he is pleased with how everything is going during that period.
"There were ups and downs, every season is like a roller coaster - there are good moments, bad moments. It took me a little while to get used to it. And once I adapted, then everything started to go right."
WE CAN WIN THE TITLE
Buducnost started the playoffs in first place, which means they will have home-field advantage until the end. "Blue" leads 1:0 against Mega in the quarterfinals, the second match is tomorrow (19) in Belgrade.
"We want to win and advance to the semifinals. Mega is a young, talented team. They never give up, they play hard, without fear, their game is based a lot on transition. It won't be easy, but we want to triumph and end that series," said Wright.
Buducnost won their only regional title in 2018. The "Blues" have disrupted the plans of many in the ABA League this season, they want to go all the way, to repeat that 2018.
"Of course we can win the title, that's our goal. We won first place in the regular season, we want to be first at the end. Now the other teams will be motivated to beat us, because we were first in the regular season," said Wright.
EUROLEAGUE - ONE DAY...
McKinley missed the first playoff game against Mega due to a wrist injury. The playmaker was injured in the game against Dubai and is questionable for the second game.
"I feel good, but I'm not sure if I'll play yet. It's getting better every day. I've started the recovery process on the field with the coaching staff, let's see how I feel, we'll monitor the situation," explained Wright.
In recent days, information has appeared in some media outlets that Dubai is interested in Wright.
"At the moment, I am focused on the ABA League playoffs and winning the title in that competition. At the end of the season, I will sit down with the people from Buducnost, we will talk and see what my options are. I saw that information, I received a lot of messages when it appeared in the media. But, I repeat once again, I am focused on the playoffs and what awaits me this season."
However, he does not hide his desire to play in the Euroleague one day.
"I want to play in the Euroleague one day, that's my goal and dream. We'll see what happens, I don't know where I'll be next season, in the Eurocup, Euroleague, ABA League... I'm thinking about this season, to win the title, and then at the end I'll sit down with the people from Buducnost, probably with other clubs, to see what's best for me and my career," said Wright.
I was surprised by the Dončić trade.
During his NBA career, Wright played in Dallas with Luka Dončić. The Slovenian international was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sensational trade in early February, and Wright, like the entire public, was surprised.
"I was very surprised when the news about the trade came out. They traded a talented player, a big star, an incredible trade. I know he wanted to spend the rest of his career in Dallas. I wish him all the best in Los Angeles. I know he will play his best," Wright concluded.
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