Friday will mark the 42nd annual Danny R. Wright Basketball Tournament.
But for Coach Wright, it’s less about the basketball and more about the opportunity the tournament provides.
“It has become a brotherhood, a fellowship, and a homecoming,” says Wright.
The tournament runs Friday and Saturday as part of the Black Cultural Council of Odessa’s Juneteenth celebration, which is the “largest organized Juneteenth celebration in the United States.”
While the holiday has its origins in Texas, 2022 will mark the second year it has been celebrated as a federal holiday after being signed into law last year.
“The Black male is few and far between. Odessa has roughly a three-to-four percent African American population in the city itself, and this is an opportunity to put them on a platform, highlight them, have a little camaraderie with one another,” said Wright.
While Coach Wright’s tournament has evolved over time into what it is today as part of the celebration, it wasn’t always that way.
“It started out with myself and some of the guys that I graduated out of high school with. I was about 19 when we played in that first one,” said Wright.
And although the original iteration of the tournament featured t-shirt jerseys customized with markers, the tournament has grown into a must-attend event.
“It basically makes itself,” said Wright regarding the tournament.
“Those guys will start calling, they’ll go out and get their uniforms. Guys start to get in shape around March, April or so, cause they know they’ve got the Juneteenth tournament coming up.”
Being the only men’s league tournament in West Texas, Wright’s past competitions have drawn some of the best players from in and around the area, including ex-Permian, OHS, college and even professional players.
“We’ve had guys like Larry Johnson, Moochie Norris, Craig Ehlo, Mark Davis and Darvin Ham. All those guys have played in the Juneteenth tournament,” said Wright.
While the intensity might have toned down over time, Wright sees the tournament as more of a bonding opportunity for the community.
“Instead of being so competitive, it’s kinda become more of a fellowship-type thing,” said Wright.
”The tournament will be going on, and guys will come by just to see who came back in town, just to catch up a little bit. Providing a little bit of entertainment in order for those adults and young men, those people to come to see one another, I think its an absolutely beautiful thing.”
More than anything, Wright loves the atmosphere that the tournament provides.
Wright says that he coached 80-90% of the players who come to participate in the tournament, and that it gives him a great opportunity to reconnect with them.
”I feel like a grandfather when all his kids are coming home,” he said. “We get a chance to reflect, talk about the things they were doing in high school, catch up with what their kids are doing.
“Talk about something I can help them with. I look forward to it every year.”
The tournament will be hosted at the Woodson Boys and Girls Club and will feature three levels of play: Open, High School, and JV.
There will also be a 35 and over Legends tournament held on Sunday.
”It’s kinda just a Father’s Day deal, to give our Black fathers a platform of fun, glory, and to highlight them”, said Wright.
Over its 41 years of its existence, the tournament has become what Wright calls a “little jewel.”
“If you know about it, you know,” said Wright.
“Those who know can’t wait for it to happen. Those that don’t, they’re kinda missing out.”
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