Ish Wainright

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 he 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,{{cite web |title=ESPN Recruiting BB |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/101154 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=August 5, 2021}} No. 51 by Scout.com, No. 52 by Rivals.com, and No. 62 by 247Sports.com.

Wainright played four seasons of basketball for the Baylor Bears. He averaged 5.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game as a junior.{{cite news |title=Another talented Baylor team after another early NCAA exit |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2016/10/26/another-talented-baylor-team-after-another-early-ncaa-exit/92794352/ |access-date=August 5, 2021 |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |date=October 26, 2016}} As a senior, Wainright averaged 5.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. He played one season of football after his basketball career, playing tight end. Wainright had four catches for 34 yards and two touchdowns.{{cite web |last=Irving |first=Kyle |date=August 13, 2021 |title=Who is Ishmail Wainright? Fast facts on Toronto Raptors' latest reported signing |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/toronto-raptors/news/who-is-ishmail-wainright-fast-facts-on-toronto-raptors-latest-reported-signing/1ld612jcjzo2z1i056f5siknxp |access-date=October 23, 2023 |website=sportingnews.com}}

After finishing his career at Baylor, Wainright joined the Buffalo Bills of the NFL as an undrafted free agent, but he did not make the final roster.{{cite web |last=Zucker |first=Joseph |date=April 30, 2018 |title=Former Baylor Basketball Player Ishmail Wainright Signs Bills Contract |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2773509-former-baylor-basketball-player-ishmail-wainright-signs-bills-contract |access-date=December 4, 2021 |website=BleacherReport.com}}{{cite web |date=August 5, 2021 |title=Report: Raptors sign Wainwright to two-year deal - TSN.ca |url=https://www.tsn.ca/toronto-raptors-ishmail-wainwright-baylor-buffalo-bills-1.1678092 |access-date=December 4, 2021 |website=TSN.ca}}

Wainright returned to basketball and signed with Nürnberg Falcons BC on September 3, 2018.{{cite web|title=Ishmail Wainright verstärkt Kader der Nürnberg Falcons|url=https://n-bc.de/2018/09/03/ishmail-wainright-komplettiert-kader-der-nuernberg-falcons/|website=n-bc.de|date=September 3, 2018|access-date=August 5, 2021|language=German|archive-date=August 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806002648/https://n-bc.de/2018/09/03/ishmail-wainright-komplettiert-kader-der-nuernberg-falcons/|url-status=dead}} He averaged 12.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.

On July 2, 2019, Wainright signed with Rasta Vechta.{{cite news|first=Emiliano|last=Carchia|title=Rasta Vechta signs Steve Vasturia and Ishmail Wainright|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/rasta-vechta-signs-steve-vasturia-and-ishmail-wainright/?dev|newspaper=Sportando|date=July 2, 2019|access-date=August 5, 2021}} Wainright averaged 10.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assist and 1.8 steals per game.

On June 17, 2020, he signed with SIG Strasbourg.{{cite news|first=Dario|last=Skerletic|title=Ishmail Wainright joins SIG Strasbourg|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/ishmail-wainright-joins-sig-strasbourg/?dev|newspaper=Sportando|date=June 17, 2020|access-date=August 5, 2021}} He averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.[https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Ish-Wainright/Summary/81536 "Ish Wainwright,"] realgm.

On August 7, 2021, Wainright signed a two-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Toronto Raptors,{{cite tweet|first=Steven|last=Loung|title=The Raptors have made the signings of Justin Champagnie and Ishmail Wainright official. https://t.co/heQpomYNQn|number=1424188706165071875|user=loung_s|date=August 8, 2021|access-date=February 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411001948/https://twitter.com/loung_s/status/1424188706165071875|archive-date=April 11, 2022|url-status=live}} but was waived by the Raptors on October 17.{{cite tweet|author=Toronto Raptors|author-link=Toronto Raptors|title=Official: We've waived forward Ish Wainright https://t.co/hWw8G9zqTk|number=1449740428345966595|user=Raptors|date=October 17, 2021|access-date=February 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513143548/https://twitter.com/Raptors/status/1449740428345966595|archive-date=May 13, 2022|url-status=live}} Five days later, he signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns.{{cite web|first=Sam|last=Harvey|title=SUNS SIGN ISH WAINRIGHT|url=https://www.nba.com/suns/suns-sign-ish-wainright|website=NBA.com|date=October 22, 2021|access-date=October 22, 2021}} Wainright later made his NBA debut on November 19 near the end of a win against the Dallas Mavericks, with him recording his first official 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.{{cite web|first=Ariebi|last=Solomon|title=NBA: Ishmail Wainwright's career-high 10 points helps Phoenix Suns rally past San Antonio Spurs.|url=https://ugsports.net/nba-ishmail-wainwrights-career-high-10-points-helps-phoenix-suns-rally-past-san-antonio-spurs/|website=UgSports.net|date=January 31, 2022|access-date=February 24, 2022|archive-date=February 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224144016/https://ugsports.net/nba-ishmail-wainwrights-career-high-10-points-helps-phoenix-suns-rally-past-san-antonio-spurs/|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|title=Suns vs Clippers, April 6, 2022|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202204060LAC.html|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=April 6, 2022}} On April 10, the Suns converted his deal into a standard contract.{{cite tweet|author=Phoenix Suns|author-link=Phoenix Suns|title=Official: Suns have converted the two-way contract of Ish Wainright into a standard NBA contract. https://t.co/BJUnWbGvkQ|number=1513235423111237633|user=Suns|date=April 10, 2022|access-date=February 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830100402/https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1513235423111237633|archive-date=August 30, 2022|url-status=live}}

Wainright joined the Suns' 2022 NBA Summer League roster.{{cite web|title=Phoenix Suns 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster {{!}} NBA.com|url=https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2022/vegas/team/1610612756/suns|website=NBA.com|access-date=July 11, 2022}} On August 4, 2022, Wainright signed a two-way contract with the Suns.{{cite tweet|author=Phoenix Suns|author-link=Phoenix Suns|title=Pen to paper ✍️ https://t.co/wRNr5uVSef|number=1555310310864482304|user=Suns|date=August 4, 2022|access-date=February 10, 2023}} 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, Wainwright signed a two-year, $2.5 million deal with the Suns, including a team option for the 2023–24 season. Wainwright previously operated under a two-way contract and was nearing the 50-game limit.{{cite web|title=Suns' Ish Wainright: Inks new deal with Phoenix|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/suns-ish-wainright-inks-new-deal-with-phoenix/|website=CBSSports.com|date=February 25, 2023|access-date=February 25, 2023}} 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, Wainwright made a significant impact, hitting four of his five three-point attempts, helping the Suns secure a 130–126 victory.{{cite web |last1=Haller |first1=Doug |last2=Cato |first2=Tim |date=March 5, 2023 |title=Kevin Durant hits game winner, drops 37 points as Suns edge Mavericks on road |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4278062/2023/03/05/kevin-durant-kyrie-irving-suns-mavericks/ |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=TheAthletic.com}}

On October 19, 2023, Wainwright was waived shortly before the 2023–24 season.{{cite web|title=Suns waive Ish Wainright as roster cap deadline looms|url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3536445/suns-waive-ish-wainright-as-roster-cap-deadline-looms/|website=ArizonaSports.com|date=October 19, 2023|access-date=October 19, 2023}}

On October 21, 2023, Wainwright was claimed off waivers by the Portland Trail Blazers.{{cite web|title=Trail Blazers Claim Ish Wainright Off Waivers|url=https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trail-blazers-claim-ish-wainright-off-waivers|website=NBA.com|date=October 21, 2023|access-date=October 22, 2023}} 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, he was waived by Portland.{{cite web|title=Trail Blazers Waive Skylar Mays and Ish Wainright|url=https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trail-blazers-waive-skylar-mays-and-ish-wainright|website=NBA.com|date=January 6, 2024|access-date=January 7, 2024}}

On March 4, 2024, Wainwright returned to the Phoenix Suns on a two-way contract.{{cite web|title=SUNS SIGN FORWARD ISH WAINRIGHT|url=https://www.nba.com/suns/news/suns-sign-forward-ish-wainright|website=NBA.com|date=March 4, 2024|access-date=March 5, 2024}} In his third season with the Suns, he only played four total games with the team due to him being a late return for the franchise.

On July 10, 2024, Wainright signed with the Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Ligat HaAl.{{cite web|title=ברוך הבא, איש ווינרייט!|url=https://hapoeluta.org/news?NewsId=32381|website=HapoelUTA.org|date=July 10, 2024|access-date=July 17, 2024|language=Hebrew}} On April 11, 2025, he won the EuroCup title and helped the team qualify to the EuroLeague. {{cite web|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/sport/israelibasketball/article/rjqokhuakg |title=הישג היסטורי: הפועל ת"א זכתה ביורוקאפ - והבטיחה מקום ביורוליג |work=Ynet |last1=עמורבן |first1=אפרת }}

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 Galanopoulous and Mike Schmitz to become a naturalized Ugandan to help build the team and increase employment opportunities.{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Blake |title=Raptors' Ishmail Wainright is a walking culture-builder: 'Everyone wants to cheer for a guy like that' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2787721/2021/08/30/raptors-ishmail-wainright-is-a-walking-culture-builder-everyone-wants-to-cheer-for-a-guy-like-that/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=August 5, 2022 |date=August 30, 2021}} Wainright scored 36 points and collected 13 rebounds in his national team debut in a win over {{bklink|Cape Verde}} in November 2020.{{cite news |last=Ndyamuhaki |first=Emanzi |date=August 7, 2021 |title=What next for Wainright with the Silverbacks? |language=en |work=Daily Monitor |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/basketball/what-next-for-wainright-with-the-silverbacks--3502466 |access-date=August 28, 2021}} He was on the roster during AfroBasket 2021.{{cite web |title=Uganda at the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/afrobasket/2021/team/Uganda# |website=FIBA.basketball |language=en}}

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2021}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix

| 45 || 0 || 8.0 || .394 || .322 || .583 || 1.2 || .3 || .4 || .1 || 2.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2022}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix

| 60 || 2 || 15.3 || .370 || .329 || .839 || 2.3 || .9 || .6 || .4 || 4.2

|-

| rowspan=2 style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2023}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Portland

| 7 || 0 || 6.6 || .333 || .375 || 1.000 || 1.3 || .0 || .3 || .1 || 2.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix

| 4 || 0 || 4.1 || .167 || .250 || {{sort|-|—}} || 1.3 || .3 || .5 || .0 || .8

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 116 || 2 || 11.5 || .372 || .329 || .778 || 1.8 || .6 || .5 || .3 || 3.3

{{S-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022

| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix

| 7 || 0 || 3.8 || .417 || .500 || — || 1.6 || .1 || .1 || .1 || 1.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023

| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix

| 6 || 0 || 3.5 || .250 || .250 || — || .2 || .0 || .0 || .2 || .5

|- class="sortbottom"

| colspan=2 style="text-align:center"|Career

| 13 || 0 || 3.6 || .375 || .400 || — || .9 || .1 || .1 || .2 || 1.2

{{s-end}}

Wainright's father, Calvin Wainright, was raised by his mother Marvine Wainright and stepfather Alvin Joe; his 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.{{cite tweet |last=Wainright |first=Ish |user=Wainright24 |number=1591919267318235136 |date=November 13, 2022 |title=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 |access-date=February 10, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Medina |first1=David |last2=Kaut |first2=Steve |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Beloved Kansas City basketball coach Calvin Wainright dies |url=https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/the-pied-piper-beloved-kansas-city-basketball-coach-calvin-wainright-dies |access-date=October 23, 2023 |website=kshb.com}}{{cite web | url=https://www.lawrenceajones.com/obituary/PastorCalvin-Wainright | title=Obituary for Pastor Calvin C. Wainright | Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapels | access-date=February 1, 2023 | archive-date=February 1, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201225912/https://www.lawrenceajones.com/obituary/PastorCalvin-Wainright | url-status=dead }} In 2020, Calvin received the Kansas City People's Choice Awards Humanitarian Award for his work in the city.{{cite tweet |author=The Mayor of Kansas City, Mo |user=RayThaJerk |number=1291444752198643715 |date=August 6, 2020 |title=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 |access-date=February 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131160105/https://twitter.com/RayThaJerk/status/1291444752198643715 |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |url-status=live}} 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 match against Kansas University by using the name Ishmail King-Wainright throughout the game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2017-02-01/baylor-basketball-ishmail-wainright-honors-late-grandfather|title=Baylor's Wainright honors late grandfather, first African-American starter for Kansas | NCAA.com|website=www.ncaa.com}}

Wainright also has a younger brother named Amaad that also previously played college basketball. Amaad played basketball collegiately 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.{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Blake |title=Raptors' Ishmail Wainright is a walking culture-builder: 'Everyone wants to cheer for a guy like that' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2787721/2021/08/30/raptors-ishmail-wainright-is-a-walking-culture-builder-everyone-wants-to-cheer-for-a-guy-like-that/ |work=The Athletic |access-date=August 5, 2022 |date=August 30, 2021}}

Wainright is also the cousin of current Grand Canyon 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.{{cite web|first=John|last=Marshall|title= Grand Canyon's Tyon Grant-Foster is thriving despite a pair of near-death experiences |url= https://apnews.com/article/grand-canyon-tyon-grantfoster-ac79888bf1041f116cc2f1b00aef3afd |website=apnews.com|publisher=Associated Press|date=December 24, 2023|access-date=March 18, 2024}} 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 risk not playing basketball altogether at one point. During his only season at Grand Canyon, Grant-Foster would win the WAC Player of the Year award and reach the All-WAC First Team in 2024,{{cite web | url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3544297/grand-canyons-tyon-grant-foster-named-wac-player-of-the-year/ | title=Grand Canyon's Tyon Grant-Foster named WAC Player of the Year | date=March 12, 2024 }} as well as lead the university to their first ever victory in the NCAA tournament by defeating St. Mary's College.

• List of second-generation National Basketball Association players

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{basketballstats|bbr=w/wainris01}}
• [https://baylorbears.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/ishmail-wainright/520 Baylor Bears bio]
• [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4109411/2023/02/01/ish-wainright-career-nba-nfl/ From Josh Allen to Chris Paul: Ish Wainright's winding journey to the NBA]

{{Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. current roster}}

{{Hapoel Tel Aviv 2024–25 EuroCup champions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wainright, Ish}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:American expatriate basketball people in France

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Germany

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Israel

Category:American football tight ends

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Kansas City, Missouri

Category:Baylor Bears football players

Category:Baylor Bears men's basketball players

Category:Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. players

Category:Naturalised basketball players

Category:Nürnberg Falcons BC players

Category:Phoenix Suns players

Category:Portland Trail Blazers players

Category:Power forwards

Category:Rip City Remix players

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Category:SIG Strasbourg players

Category:Small forwards

Category:Ugandan men's basketball players

Category:Undrafted NBA players