Wright-Foreman arrives Justin time
Addition of talented guard gives Sea Bears formidable one-two punch
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/06/2024 (798 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Justin Wright-Foreman would be the biggest star on just about any other team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
He’s landed in Winnipeg, however, where, even he admits, he’s the No. 2 man.
The 6-foot free agent guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., signed last week with the Sea Bears, where reigning league MVP Teddy Allen has been the marquee attraction since opening day in 2023.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Newly-acquired Justin Wright-Foreman (left) with current team points leader Teddy Allen at Sea Bears practice on Tuesday.
“I wouldn’t say it’s taking a step back on my end, but I guess that comes from a maturity standpoint within my game,” said Wright-Foreman, following his first practice with his new team Tuesday afternoon. “I feel like Teddy was already established here. This is Teddy’s team. I’m not coming here to step on anybody’s toes.
“I understand Teddy has been here before me and I think Teddy has a great respect for me knowing that I’m gonna score, too, but if I had to take the step back from the scoring and average what — 15 (points) and 10 (rebounds) — whatever you need to get done, throw it to me. I’m that type of person.”
Wright-Foreman established himself as one of the league’s top offensive threats after signing with the Saskatchewan Rattlers in 2023, averaging 29.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and shooting 49.3 per cent from the field while playing 33.8 minutes per game in 18 appearances.
Allen, meanwhile, averaged 27.3 points per game last season, second in the CEBL to Wright-Foreman, and he’s kicked off the 2024 by averaging a league-leading 27.0 per game through the club’s first six games.
The 3-3 Sea Bears, coming off two consecutive road losses and preparing to face the 5-1 Vancouver Bandits in Langley, B.C., Thursday night, are in need of a spark.
“We’ve got to build the chemistry and it’s not easy in-season, to do that but for me, I’m all for it,” said Sea Bears guard Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson. “The first day brought a lot of good energy, positivity and he wants to win. We all want to win at the end of the day. It’s not about putting up 40 points a game or anything like that. It’s about winning for the city and that’s what I’m here for.”
The Sea Bears felt the need to make a move with their quota of three import players. American Darius Days had missed the previous three games while trying out for multiple NBA teams and GM and head coach Mike Taylor decided to drop the power forward in favour of adding Wright-Foreman.
“The first impression was outstanding,” said Taylor. “The interactions between Justin and Teddy have been great. There’s mutual respect, they like each other’s game and I think they’re complimentary. Justin’s really good with the ball and Teddy’s really good off the ball.
I think now it’s a great one-two punch and now it’s for them not only to be focused on themselves and them scoring but our team… and creating things and doing things for other people as well.”
Wright-Foreman is hungry to win a championship and he’s willing to become more of a distributor with his new club.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Justin Wright-Foreman goes airborne Tuesday at Sea Bears practice.
“If I have to defer, let it be me because that’s my job,” said Wright-Foreman. “I want to do that…
“I feel like my passing is very underrated and everybody hasn’t seen that side (of me) but now I get to show that a lot more… We’ve got a lot of guys here who can put the ball in the basket.”
Taylor expects the task of replacing Day will fall to a trio of players — Simon Hildebrandt, David Muenkat and Emmanuel Akot. Hildebrandt is in his second CEBL season, Muenkat was added to the lineup last week and performed well while Akot, a Winnipegger who had spent the winter season playing in the Netherlands, practised for the first time with the Sea Bears Tuesday.
“We have a fresh start with new faces, new players that we want to try to integrate them as quickly as possible,” said Taylor. “So you’ve got three guys who are new to the team and they’ve got a lot of system to learn. So we’re working on our own… We want to get our own house right, our own house in order first.”
The Sea Bears return to their home court on Sunday with a 2 p.m. matchup against the Edmonton Stingers at Canada Life Centre.
mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca