Former NBA star Lorenzen Wright was a curious person both on and off the court. Now, a custom motorcycle he had built for himself by Carl Brouhard, a motorcycle as unique as the player himself, is about to go up for sale in Memphis. The sale is slated for Friday, August 22 at the Morris Auction Center.
The large, and extra-long, bike was built to accommodate the 6-foot-11 star in 2008. Its fire engine red frame and gold exhaust are mixed with plenty of chrome and a custom seat for a truly unique piece of equipment. However, the real value in the bike is not in the parts used to build it. The value is in the legacy left behind by Wright.
The Clippers drafted Lorenzen Wright out of the University of Memphis in 1996. He returned to Memphis to play for the Grizzlies from 2001 through 2005, before beginning his second stint with Atlanta. But Wright's heart was always in Memphis, having played high school and college ball there. He was known around town as a local hero and an incredibly generous person.
Wright was known to offer generous help when confronted with a genuine need. For example, he and fellow NBA stars Penny Hardaway and Elliot Perry provided financial assistance to a local Memphis orphan named Travis Butler after his tragic story made the news headlines. Everywhere Wright went he was seen as a "gentle giant" who had no enemies.
His own story came to a tragic and abrupt end in 2010 when he left his ex-wife's house and was never seen again. His body later turned up in a wooded area near a South Memphis apartment complex. He had been shot to death. Unfortunately, this case remains unsolved to this day.
Auctioning a Legacy
The auctioning off Wright's custom motorcycle is more about his legacy than anything else. The new owner will have, in his or her possession, a part of history that will be forever immortalized in a one-of-a-kind, custom-made machine. We hope that that new owner will take great pride in what it represents, not only to Wright's family, but also to the greater Memphis area. We have no doubt that will be the case.
Auctioneer Jeff Morris has not publicly disclosed what he thinks the bike might go for or who will be receiving the proceeds from the sale. Nevertheless, we expect the auction to fetch a fairly hefty price given who built the bike. As one of the biggest names in custom motorcycle design and building, Brouhard's machines command top dollar at retail. But adding in the story and ownership of this bike suggests he has a package that will likely bring a very good price.
We sincerely hope Wright's family is able to eventually put this tragic story behind them. We also hope Wright's killer or killers will eventually be found and brought to justice. In the meantime, his unique motorcycle will continue to be a testament to the man he was.
