Power Standout Julian Wright Talks About Hosting Classes And Training, His BIG3 Season And More

Power standout Julian Wright is enjoying his offseason, creating a virtual training program and new state-of-the-art facility for his company A.D.A.P.T. We sat down with Julian to discuss this and how he managed to have a breakout season last year.

Q: Drafted by Power, you had an incredible season and were a big reason for their success. Why do you think you were able to do so well and standout?

A: The team was already together before I got there. They already had a great chemistry and I just came in and did what I was asked to do. With the injuries that came around, I just knew I needed to step up and produce. Everyone got along in the locker room

Q: What separates the BIG3 game in your opinion?

A: The toughness. I think it’s a hard transition for certain guys because they are used to the refs bailing them out. I respected that. There’s no hiding here. I think it suits me well because I never relied on the refs to help my game. It’s also really intense. Because here, there’s no easy buckets. We don’t have fast break points. After every game my quadriceps would be burning due to playing defense on guys the entire game. 14-second shot clock, it’s tough, people really underestimate how much work it is.

Q: What is it like having Nancy Lieberman as a coach?

A: She is awesome. She’s a genuine person and she doesn’t look at the back of the jersey. She treats everyone with the utmost respect and appreciation. Every family member of mine was family to her. She’s an amazing coach but an even better person.

Q: Who are the teammates that you leaned on or looked up to?

A: I looked up to how Corey prepared and went about his business. It was just like we were back in the league. He handles himself with so much professionalism on and off the court. It’s a lifestyle for him. He has his routine, he’s in the gym early, it really set the tone for our team. Off the court, he had some great conversations for me and really carried the torch in helping me.

Q: You started a new training program and are doing a lot with it. What made you go into that and explain what A.D.A.P.T. is all about.

A: I have played virtually every brand of basketball from NBA to overseas to BIG3. In my career, I was always having to adapt and change the way I played. It wasn’t always easy and so I wanted to make sure that I could help players and give life skills of things that I have learned to put players in a better position to succeed. That’s why I called it A.D.A.P.T. because as a player, many are asked to change and it’s not always easy to do. My goal is to help players go through that.

Q: You’re also building a facility and gym for your programs, how did that start and where is that at?

A: I have lived in big metropolitan cities with tons of gyms and facilities and when I moved to North Carolina, I noticed I couldn’t rent or find a gym. So I decided to build one and help provide a place for others to use it. I added a studio to it, so that we can offer more virtual and online classes. The whole concept is to make sure that everyone can have access affordably.

Q: Your game is really unique and very different from other players. How do you view yourself as a player?

A: You know, I used to play point guard in high-school. I was a McDonald’s All-American playing point guard. I averaged 14 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Then, I went to college and they moved me to a point forward and power forward role. So I moved from outside to inside and really wasn’t prepared for that change instantly. I had to adapt and change my game and then when I entered the NBA, I was a small forward. So there were so many different positions and uses for me, but part of it is how coaches implemented me. All that to say, I think I am an all-purpose player. I have always been an all-purpose player but I don’t think many coaches really took the time to play me in ways to succeed. So part of my program is about helping coaches understand how to use players in the best possible way.