<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> Caught up in the excitement of draft night, Hornets Coach Byron Scott made a seemingly ridiculous comparison. Asked which NBA player reminded the coach of draftee Julian Wright, Scott said: Earvin "Magic" Johnson.</p> Listeners were befuddled. Did he mean Ervin Johnson, the former UNO and NBA player? Surely he didn't mean the Hall of Famer; there are only a few players in NBA history who are similar to Johnson, much less some rookie.</p> Scott didn't mean that Wright is the next Magic -- it's just that Wright is a versatile player, a guy who can stuff a stat sheet like Johnson would for the 1980s Lakers.</p> And in two preseason games, the youngster from Kansas has flourished at just that.</p> "His instincts are fantastic," Scott said of Wright, who was born in 1987, the year Johnson won MVP and an NBA title.</p> Scott whetted Wright's appetite in Tuesday night's opener against Houston, playing the forward only nine minutes. But Wright, the 13th pick in draft, grabbed eight rebounds, second most on the team. Wright also had three points and one assist, a steal and a block.</p> "At his position, he's one of the best shot-blockers I've seen in a long time," Scott said of the 6-foot-8, 225-pound Wright.</p> Then, in 25 minutes Wednesday night at Indiana, Wright was a statistical glutton -- eight points, a team-high 10 rebounds, four assists, one steal and two blocks. He also had five fouls.</p> "Julian is so active," Scott said. "Him and Ryan Bowen, right now, are probably our two most energetic guys out there. They just seem to be around the ball at all times. They get their hands on the ball, things like that."</p> Wright continues to work on his shooting during -- and after -- each practice. While all of the coaches have spent time developing the 20-year-old, Paul Pressey has spent ample time with Wright, helping the rookie with his mechanics.</div></p> Source: NOLA</p>
