Veteran NBA star Delon Wright has been cut from the Indiana Pacers roster, mere hours after suffering a brutal and traumatic head injury four minutes into his debut.
Wright, 33, finished last season in the playoffs with the New York Knicks but has bounced around the league in recent years and landed in Indiana for preseason.
On Tuesday night he made his first appearance for the team, but inadvertently smashed his head on the court just four minutes into the game.
Wright clashed heads with a Minnesota Timberwolves rival, rendering him momentarily unable to protect himself, and he slammed his head onto the hardwood.
As he sat up, dazed and confused, blood could be seen pouring from a cut on his head and in his mouth, and trainers immediately rushed to his aid.
Worryingly, neuroscientist and head injury specialist Chris Nowinski posted on X: ‘Delon Wright with a brutal traumatic brain injury here.
Delon Wright lays motionless on the court after colliding heads with a rival on Tuesday night
Wright soon had blood pouring from a cut on his face and medics rushed to his aid on court
‘Note the double impact – he’s unconscious after the head-to-head hit, so he can’t protect himself on the fall and took a second hit from the hard floor. Hope he is able to recover quickly. #concussion.’
Unfortunately for Wright, the bad news has continued and he has now been shown the brutal reality of life as a professional sportsman: getting cut by the team.
The point guard was seemingly informed of the news on Wednesday night – less than 24 hours after suffering his head injury, and he posted on X: ‘Sick business’ with a laughing emoji.
The Pacers confirmed the roster changes on Thursday morning, signing guard Cam Payne to a training camp contract and waiving Wright.
Wright posted a follow-up injury update to his followers, revealing: ‘Thanks to everyone that prayed or sent get well wishes my way! Yes that was a brutal hit I took but, I am doing good just 10 stitches above my eye and 4 on my elbow.’
The incident occurred when Wright clashed heads just four minutes into his Pacers debut
Wright was brutally cut just a few hours later and is now looking for a new team in the NBA
Wright, 33, took to social media to update fans on his health – and comment on the ‘sick’ NBA
Incredibly, Wright has already played for 11 different NBA teams after being drafted with the 20th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 2015 Draft.
He won the 2024 NBA Cup with the Bucks in 2024 and has had regular gametime around the league, but has failed to stay on a roster for a prolonged period.
He has played 548 games in his career, featuring in seven different playoff campaigns – including six games with the Knicks last season.
At 33, the hunt is now on for another landing spot as he edges into the twilight years of his career.
