Ish Wainright

Ish Wainright
Wainright with the Toronto Raptors in the 2021 preseason
No. 12 – Hapoel Tel Aviv
PositionSmall forward / power forward
LeagueIsraeli Basketball Premier League
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1994-09-12) September 12, 1994 (age 32)
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Listed height
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight
250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeBaylor (2013–2017)
2017: undrafted
Playing career
2018–present
Career history
2018–2019Nürnberg Falcons
2019–2020Rasta Vechta
2020–2021SIG Strasbourg
2021–2023Phoenix Suns
2023–2024Portland Trail Blazers
2023→Rip City Remix
2024Phoenix Suns
2024–presentHapoel Tel Aviv
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Ishmail Carzell Wainright (born September 12, 1994) is an American-born Ugandan professional basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague. He also represents the senior Ugandan national team.

He played college basketball for the Baylor Bears, with whom he was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team in 2017. He also played football for the school as a tight end. He has played in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers. Wainright is the grandson of former NBA player Maurice King.

High school career

Wainright played two seasons for head coach Stu Vetter at Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland, helping the team to 19–5 record as senior in 2012–13. He earned 2013 All-MET honors after averaging 8.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists for Mustangs.

He began his prep career at Raytown South High School in suburban Kansas City, where Wainright averaged 13.6 points and 9.8 rebounds as a sophomore in 2010–11. A consensus top-75 recruit, he was ranked No. 28 in 2013 class by ESPN.com, No. 51 by Scout.com, No. 52 by Rivals.com, and No. 62 by 247Sports.com.

College career

Wainright played four seasons of basketball for the Baylor Bears, from 2013-17. He averaged 24.7 minutes, 5.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 steals per game over 34 games as a junior.

As a senior, Wainright averaged 29.4 minutes, 5.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 steals (8th in the conference) per game over 35 games. He was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.

He played one season of football for Baylor after his college basketball career and staying at the school for a fifth year, playing tight end. Wainright had four catches for 34 yards and two touchdowns in nine games.

After finishing his career at Baylor, Wainright joined the Buffalo Bills of the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He did not make the final roster.

Professional career

Nürnberg Falcons (2018–2019)

Wainright returned to basketball and signed with Nürnberg Falcons BC on September 3, 2018. He played in 39 games and averaged 28.4 minutes, 12.1 points, 7.5 rebounds (4th in the German Pro A league), 2.8 assists, and 1.7 steals (2nd) per game, while shooting 56.2% from the field.

Rasta Vechta (2019–2020)

On July 2, 2019, Wainright signed with Rasta Vechta. Wainright played in 40 games and averaged 29.0 minutes, 10.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 steals (2nd in the German BBL) per game.

SIG Strasbourg (2020–2021)

On June 17, 2020, Wainright signed with SIG Strasbourg. He averaged 27.9 minutes, 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals (5th in the French Jeep Elite) per game, while shooting 49.2% from the field.

Phoenix Suns (2021–2023)

On August 7, 2021, Wainright signed a two-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Toronto Raptors. He was waived by the Raptors on October 17.

Five days later, he signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns. Wainright made his NBA debut on November 19 near the end of a win against the Dallas Mavericks, with him recording his first points, rebounds, and assist two days later in a blowout win over the Denver Nuggets. On January 30, 2022, Wainright scored a then-season-high 10 points and put up two blocks in 20 minutes of action (including the entirety of the fourth quarter) in a 115–110 win over the San Antonio Spurs. On April 6, he surpassed his season bests with career highs of 20 points and 8 rebounds in a close loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. On April 10, the Suns converted his deal into a standard contract. In 2021-22 for Phoenix, in 45 games he averaged 8.0 minutes, 2.4 points, and 1.2 rebounds per game

Wainright joined the Suns' 2022 NBA Summer League roster. On August 4, 2022, Wainright signed a two-way contract with the Suns. After dealing with lower back pain and then the death of his father, pastor Calvin Wainright, Ishmail Wainright returned to action with the Suns on November 16, hitting a three-pointer in a 130–119 win over the defending champion Golden State Warriors.

On February 24, 2023, Wainright signed a two-year, $2.5 million deal with the Suns, including a team option for the 2023–24 season. Wainright previously operated under a two-way contract and was nearing the 50-game limit. On March 5 against the Dallas Mavericks, coach Monty Williams made a decision late in the third quarter to substitute starter Josh Okogie, who had missed all of his eight three-point attempts, with Wainright. Although he had not played in the game up until that point, Wainright made a significant impact, hitting four of his five three-point attempts, helping the Suns secure a 130–126 victory. In 2022-23 for Phoenix, in 60 games he averaged 15.3 minutes, 4.2 points, and 2.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 83.9% from the free throw line.

On October 19, 2023, Wainright was waived shortly before the 2023–24 season.

Portland Trail Blazers (2023–2024)

On October 21, 2023, Wainright was claimed off waivers by the Portland Trail Blazers. Playing three games for its G League team, the Rip City Remix, he averaged 23.3 minutes, 10.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

Wainright made his debut with the Trail Blazers on November 14 in a loss to the Utah Jazz during the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament. On January 6, 2024, after playing seven games with the team in which he averaged 6.6 minutes, 2.9 points, and 1.3 rebounds per game, he was waived by Portland.

Return to Phoenix (2024)

On March 4, 2024, very late in the season, Wainright returned to the Phoenix Suns on a two-way contract. In his third season with the Suns, he only played four games with the team, in which he averaged 4.1 minutes per game, due to him being a late return for the franchise.

Hapoel Tel Aviv (2024–present)

On July 10, 2024, Wainright signed with the Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. In 2024-25 he played in 50 games and averaged 22.0 minutes, 6.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, as he shot 47.2% from the floor. On April 11, 2025, he won the EuroCup title and helped the team qualify to the EuroLeague.

In 2025-26 he played in 68 games and averaged 23.3 minutes, 5.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.

On April 28, 2026, Wainright and the team agreed to a two-year contract extension.

National team career

Wainright plays for the Uganda men's national basketball team. As an American born in Kansas City, Missouri, he was convinced by Uganda coaches George Galanopoulos (basketball coach) and Mike Schmitz to become a naturalized Ugandan to help build the team and increase employment opportunities. Wainright scored 36 points and collected 13 rebounds in his national team debut in a win over Cape Verde in November 2020. He was on the roster during AfroBasket 2021.

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Phoenix 4508.0.394.322.5831.2.3.4.12.4
2022–23 Phoenix 60215.3.370.329.8392.3.9.6.44.2
2023–24 Portland 706.6.333.3751.0001.3.0.3.12.9
Phoenix 404.1.167.250—1.3.3.5.0.8
Career 116211.5.372.329.7781.8.6.5.33.3

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022 Phoenix 703.8.417.500—1.6.1.1.11.9
2023 Phoenix 603.5.250.250—.2.0.0.2.5
Career 1303.6.375.400—.9.1.1.21.2

Personal life

Wainright's father, Calvin Wainright, was raised by Calvin's mother Marvine Wainright and his stepfather Alvin Joe; Calvin's biological father was former NBA player Maurice King. Calvin was a pastor and youth basketball coach in Kansas City, Missouri, until his death on October 31, 2022. In 2020, Calvin received the Kansas City People's Choice Humanitarian Award for his work in the city.

Ish Wainright was told about his grandfather by his mother's side of the family while he was playing for Baylor. He honored King during a game against Kansas University by using the name Ishmail King-Wainright throughout the game.

Wainright also has a younger brother named Amaad who previously played college basketball. Amaad played basketball collegiality at Trinity Valley Community College in the NJCAA, Kansas State University in the NCAA, and Louisiana State University Shreveport in the NAIA. During his only season in Kansas State, Amaad and the Wildcats made it to the 2018 NCAA tournament, going as far as the Elite 8 in their tournament run that season.

Wainright is also the cousin of current Sioux Falls Skyforce basketball player Tyon Grant-Foster, who went to Grand Canyon University after a recommendation from Wainright and a relationship from Baylor with Grand Canyon's coach, Bryce Drew. Grant-Foster previously played for Indian Hills Community College in the NJCAA, the University of Kansas, and DePaul University before a health scare in a season opener during his only game with DePaul against Coppin State University had him consider not playing basketball altogether at one point. During his only season at Grand Canyon, Grant-Foster won the WAC Player of the Year award and reached the All-WAC First Team in 2024, while leading the university to their first ever victory in the NCAA tournament by defeating St. Mary's College.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ishmail Wainright - Men's Basketball". Baylor Bears. Baylor University.
  2. ↑ "ESPN Recruiting BB". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Ish Wainright Player Profile, Phoenix Suns - RealGM". RealGM.
  4. ↑ "Another talented Baylor team after another early NCAA exit". USA Today. Associated Press. October 26, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  5. ↑ Irving, Kyle (August 13, 2021). "Who is Ishmail Wainright? Fast facts on Toronto Raptors' latest reported signing". sportingnews.com. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  6. ↑ Zucker, Joseph (April 30, 2018). "Former Baylor Basketball Player Ishmail Wainright Signs Bills Contract". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Report: Raptors sign Wainwright to two-year deal - TSN.ca". TSN.ca. August 5, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Ishmail Wainright verstärkt Kader der Nürnberg Falcons". n-bc.de (in German). September 3, 2018. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  9. ↑ Carchia, Emiliano (July 2, 2019). "Rasta Vechta signs Steve Vasturia and Ishmail Wainright". Sportando. Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  10. ↑ Skerletic, Dario (June 17, 2020). "Ishmail Wainright joins SIG Strasbourg". Sportando. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  11. ↑ Loung, Steven [@loung_s] (August 8, 2021). "The Raptors have made the signings of Justin Champagnie and Ishmail Wainright official. https://t.co/heQpomYNQn" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  12. ↑ Toronto Raptors [@Raptors] (October 17, 2021). "Official: We've waived forward Ish Wainright https://t.co/hWw8G9zqTk" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ Harvey, Sam (October 22, 2021). "SUNS SIGN ISH WAINRIGHT". NBA.com. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ Solomon, Ariebi (January 31, 2022). "NBA: Ishmail Wainright's career-high 10 points helps Phoenix Suns rally past San Antonio Spurs". UgSports.net. Archived from the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Suns vs Clippers, April 6, 2022". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  16. ↑ Phoenix Suns [@Suns] (April 10, 2022). "Official: Suns have converted the two-way contract of Ish Wainright into a standard NBA contract. https://t.co/BJUnWbGvkQ" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ "Phoenix Suns 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster | NBA.com". NBA.com. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  18. ↑ Phoenix Suns [@Suns] (August 4, 2022). "Pen to paper ✍️ https://t.co/wRNr5uVSef" (Tweet). Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  19. ↑ "Suns' Ish Wainright: Inks new deal with Phoenix". CBSSports.com. February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  20. ↑ Haller, Doug; Cato, Tim (March 5, 2023). "Kevin Durant hits game winner, drops 37 points as Suns edge Mavericks on road". TheAthletic.com. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Suns waive Ish Wainright as roster cap deadline looms". ArizonaSports.com. October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Trail Blazers Claim Ish Wainright Off Waivers". NBA.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Trail Blazers Waive Skylar Mays and Ish Wainright". NBA.com. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  24. ↑ "SUNS SIGN FORWARD ISH WAINRIGHT". NBA.com. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  25. ↑ "ברוך הבא, איש ווינרייט!". HapoelUTA.org (in Hebrew). July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  26. ↑ עמורבן, אפרת. "הישג היסטורי: הפועל ת"א זכתה ביורוקאפ - והבטיחה מקום ביורוליג". Ynet.
  27. ↑ "Hapoel Tel Aviv secures contract extension for Ish Wainright". basketballsphere.com. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  28. ↑ Murphy, Blake (August 30, 2021). "Raptors' Ishmail Wainright is a walking culture-builder: 'Everyone wants to cheer for a guy like that'". The Athletic. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  29. ↑ Ndyamuhaki, Emanzi (August 7, 2021). "What next for Wainright with the Silverbacks?". Daily Monitor. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Uganda at the FIBA AfroBasket 2021". FIBA.basketball.
  31. ↑ Wainright, Ish [@Wainright24] (November 13, 2022). "Everyone's thoughtful words of condolence have acted as a source of strength for me during this difficult time, and I am grateful for you all. I am going to miss my Popz, my OG, my Superman, my Twin , and now my Guardian Angel. I love you and I miss you CCW 💙🕊️ https://t.co/ZGKuJsK6zm" (Tweet). Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  32. 1 2 Medina, David; Kaut, Steve (October 31, 2022). "Beloved Kansas City basketball coach Calvin Wainright dies". kshb.com. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Obituary for Pastor Calvin C. Wainright | Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapels". Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  34. ↑ The Mayor of Kansas City, Mo [@RayThaJerk] (August 6, 2020). "From Calvin Wainright- The 2nd Annual Kansas City People's Choice Awards Humanitarian Award recipient. Well deserved coach thank you @KCPCAwards https://t.co/q4LEYEbY9W" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  35. ↑ "Baylor's Wainright honors late grandfather, first African-American starter for Kansas | NCAA.com". ncaa.com.
  36. ↑ Murphy, Blake (August 30, 2021). "Raptors' Ishmail Wainright is a walking culture-builder: 'Everyone wants to cheer for a guy like that'". The Athletic. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  37. ↑ Marshall, John (December 24, 2023). "Grand Canyon's Tyon Grant-Foster is thriving despite a pair of near-death experiences". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Grand Canyon's Tyon Grant-Foster named WAC Player of the Year". March 12, 2024.