The buzzer had sounded in the Telekom Dome and the atmosphere was breathtaking, the way it should be when the home team Telekom Baskets Bonn won their first game of the season in grand fashion. The opponent were the Hamburg Towers who had been crushed 96-72. In the middle of the electric bedlam was American baller John-Michael Wright (185-G-2001, college: OK State). He had wooed the home crowd with 25 points and led his team to victory. He has been a flat out scorer where ever he had played the last 7 years from the NCAA over the pond to the Czech Republic and Croatia. The question before this season was, could he make the next step in a top 5 league with the easyCredit BBL in Germany. He showed in his first test that he can be an impact player right away. “I felt really good. I was happy how I played. I had had my up and downs in pre season, but my self confidence never wavered. I´m never a guy that will get too high. I know that it is a long season, but at the buzzer, I basked in the excitement. It was a great atmosphere and I saw right away in that first game was that everything we did, the crowd were into it”, stressed John-Michael Wright. Since 2019, he never shot better than 36% from outside in a season. He hit 7/9 form down town. What a start. He once made 7 three´s in the Czech Republic. Did his three point explosion surprise him that he was able to dominate in a first game of the season? “I wasn´t surprised. I always expect to make every shot. I felt good. I saw some go in which helped my confidence, plus I have the trust from my teammates and coaches. I always shoot with confidence. I have been working hard all pre season on my shot. My shot is feeling good at the moment. I have to keep it going”, warned John-Michael Wright. The team excelled in so many things. The team hit three´s well, won the rebound battle, allowed 72 points and only coughed up the ball only 6 times. How close was this first game to perfect for a first season game? “It was a great feeling to see how many great things that we did as a team. We had many competitive games in preseason. So we knew what we had to work on the last weeks. We feel like we still didn´t play our best. We had too many lapses in the game. We have to work on limiting the opponents two points and rebounding”, stressed John-Michael Wright.

The guard who lists Lebron James as his GOAT hails from Fayetteville, North Carolina and after playing in the Czech Republic and Croatia in his first two seasons overseas is excited to ball in Germany in his third season for the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He has come into an incredible situation that any player in the world dreams coming into. “We have a really great group of guys that are physical and have a high IQ. The team had a great run last year. Many stayed and that has helped the new guys get adjusted better. Everyone loves the system and can excel in it. The coaching staff empowers all. All want to win and no one cares who shines”, explained John-Michael Wright. But he doesn´t only feel comfortable on the court, but also off the court. “Germany is similar to the Czech Republic. Croatia was different as there was good weather and I was on the beach. I like that everyone walks or bikes in Bonn. All are drinking coffee. I´m really looking forward to winter. I love the Christmas markets”, stated John-Michael Wright. He showed in the first game that he can be the top scorer as well as filling the stat sheet with ease. Jeff Garrett proclaimed that he will run the team. “It really depends. I will do whatever is needed at the guard position. Grayson Murphy does a good job running the team. I´m a scoring minded combo guard that can shoot and defend and just strives to make the right play”, said John-Michael Wright.

The explosive scoring guard who feels that the classic flick Coming To America should have been left alone couldn´t have a better teammate than Grayson Murphy concerning playmaking. Last season Murphy had 7 games with 10 or more dimes and even registered a rare triple double against the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Wright couldn´t have asked for a better classic point guard than him. “Grayson helps me a lot in games and at practice telling me what to do in certain situations. He has a great IQ. I love how he manipulates teams with his passing. I try to pick his brain every day. If I can add some of the things that he does, then I will be a better player”, commented John-Michael Wright. With Jeff Garrett, he has the ultimate teammate that will also do anything for the team to win. “He is a good leader and veteran. He isn´t that old yet, but has seen absolutely all aspects of the game. He does a great job pushing us and holds us accountable. He will tell you the truth”, stated John-Michael Wright. One guy that the Telekom Baskets Bonn and fans will have to still wait for is American Tylan Birts. He was an impact defender last season and imagine how much more dangerous Bonn would be now if he was on the court. “He will put us over the edge when he comes back. He is able to shut down the other team´s top player. He is such a valuable defensive presence”, warned John-Michael Wright. Another great piece that was added by Bonn is Marcus Foster who broke out as a scorer at Furman (NCAA) as a senior and last year showed he can score in the BBL with MBC: “He can do a lot on the court. He is a dead eye three point shooter, can drive, post up smaller players as is a great defender. We can really rely on him on defense. When we are in a drought, he will be able to get us buckets”, warned John-Michael Wright. It will be interesting to see if the blow out win against Hamburg is no fluke as this Friday, the Telekom Baskets Bonn travel to Trier. Trier will be hungry for their first win after losing a shoot out in Braunschweig.