Public Memorial for Lorenzen Wright is Wednesday

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Public memorial services will be Wednesday at FedExForum in Memphis for ex-NBA player Lorenzen Wright.

The services were announced Friday by the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Memphis Grizzlies and the Wright family are inviting members of the community to FedExForum at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 4th to pay their respects to Wright. Doors will open at noon. Parking will be free in the Toyota Parking Garage. Space for the memorial service at FedExForum will be limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a memorial fund in Lorenzen's honor. Donations may be made online at www.cfgm.org or by sending a check made payable to the Lorenzen Wright Sr. Memorial Fund, c/o Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, 1900 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38104. All donations to this fund are tax-deductible.

Wright, a member of the inaugural Memphis Grizzlies in 2001, spent five seasons (2001-06) over his 13-year NBA career with his hometown team and was instrumental in guiding the Grizzlies to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2004-06. He played in 778 NBA games (a record for former Memphis Tigers) for five teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers (1996-99), Atlanta Hawks (1999-01, 2006-08), the Grizzlies, the Sacramento Kings (2007-08) and lastly with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2008-09).

Lorenzen is survived by six children, his mother, Deborah Marion, and his father, Herb Wright.

The Grizzlies will announce plans to honor Wright in the upcoming 2010-11 season at a later date.