Errick McCollum is a firm believer of Moses Wright: 'A lot of Lessort in him' / News - Basketnews.com

Olympiacos have bolstered their frontcourt with the addition of Moses Wright, earning high praise from Errick McCollum and Marcus Foster and drawing comparisons to Mathias Lessort.

Credit: Panagiotis Moschandreou via Getty Images, Olympiacos Piraeus Credit Panagiotis Moschandreou via Getty Images, Olympiacos Piraeus

The URBONUS co-host Errick McCollum believes Olympiacos newcomer Moses Wright has the potential to become the next notable EuroLeague player. But the Reds fans and Georgios Bartzokas have to remain patient with Merkezefendi standout.

Mathias Lessort

Team:Panathinaikos AKTOR AthensPosition:CAge:28Height:206 cmWeight:113 kgBirth place:Martinique, FranceProfileNewsStatistics

Olympiacos Piraeus have strengthened their frontcourt by signingWright from Merkezefendi Yukatel until June 2025. This move is a response to injuries sidelining Nikola MilutinovandMoustapha Fall.

In just five games in the Turkish league, Wright has quickly made an impact with impressive averages of 26.4 points (62.5% 2P%, 25.0% 3P), 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals.

His performance has garnered praise from McCollum, the scoring ace of Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir, who likened Wright to Panathinaikos Athens starting center Mathias Lessort.

"That boy is tough. The motor. Energy. He plays hungry," McCollum said of Wright during the recent URBONUS podcast. "He got a lot of [Mathias] Lessort when it comes to playing through the contact and energy, going for the rebounds, fighting. He doesn't have that defensive presence yet -- that's what's missing. That's that step he needs to take to be able to guard, to be able to do those types of things, but I think the potential is there."

McCollum faced Wright in one of those five Turkish league games. Wright dropped 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a win over Karsiyaka.

"I think when you are on a smaller team, you are so focused on offense, but the way he finishes... He hasn't learned how to pass a little bit. That's the struggle for a lot of bigs coming from the lower-level team when you are the focal point of the offense when you have that ball," the veteran guard continued. "Now, you are playing the higher-level guys, so when that double team comes, you got to kick that ball out, you got to make certain reads."

Mathias Lessort

MIN:27.78PTS:13.35 (64.92%)REB:5.96As:0.91ST:0.91BL:0.61TO:2GM:23ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

Wright's journey includes stints in the Chinese Basketball League withZhejiang Golden Bulls and Shanxi Loongs, four NBA games, and a notable G-League season in 2021-22, recording 19.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks over 29 games for the Agua Caliente Clippers and Texas Legends.

"I mean, he can put the ball on the floor, he can attack to the right, he can finish with the right hand, he is athletic, he is strong, he goes through the contact, great rebounder, great effort, a lot of Lessort in him. I like this signing," McCollum went on to say. "I think he has huge potential, but he must learn to play the European-style game. Right now, he is in bucket mode, coming from the G League, coming from that mindset.

"But he's gonna have to adapt his game because [Georgios] Bartzokas' style was different. But expect some big games and impact, also expect ups and downs. He is young," McCollum added. "It's his first time dealing with this. He's going from a situation where he was getting 15 to 17 shots a night to 6-7 shots. He is going from a situation where he was having a ball, where he was getting post-ups, and now he is just going to be screening and cutting. So give him some time to adapt, but man, that young man is going to be really good."

Marcus Foster, co-host of the podcast and Rytas Vilnius guard, also shared his positive experience facing Wright in China. Foster believes that once the 25-year-old adapts to the European style of play and shifts away from a scoring-focused mindset, he will excel in the EuroLeague.

"I think it's a great pickup," Foster said. "I played him this year in China. When he played against us, you could see the talent. I definitely see what Errick is talking about, where he is in that mindset where he has to go get his [points], but he is coming from the G League, from playing in the CBA.

"These are two places where you have to get your stats in order to get where you are going to get to. Once he figures that [European play style] out, then he is going to be able to play in the EuroLeague anywhere, not just Olympiacos."

Watch the entire URBONUS podcast with Marcus Foster and Errick McCollum:

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