Brandan Wright would be a sophomore for North Carolina and possibly be a star. However, he had chosen to go professional and enter the NBA. Being 6-foot-9 with ability helps, and currently Wright is on the edge of getting better at playing with the Warriors now that they face the last third of the season with a lesser number of players.

On Tuesday night the Golden State Warriors play against Seattle at Oracle Arena and Wright looks forward to get some minutes in the forward position. Wright caught the interest of coach Don Nelson in the most recent game against Atlanta; as the rookie played 26 minutes which was the most since the season began. He made eight points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots.

"I think he's maybe ready now to help us a little bit," Nelson said after Sunday's practice, where at he sat back much of the time and watched Wright specifically. "He wasn't ready at training camp. Coaches have been doing a marvelous job working with him. He's probably improved as much as anybody. Let's take a look at him, see what he can do."

Wright has one clear defect in his game. He talks quietly, almost sub-audibly. A listener has to lean in close to hear the young man. "I come to practice and try to work hard every day," he said while sitting on an exercise ball after the workout. "Just try to get ready for the opportunities in the future. The main thing is when you get an opportunity to be ready."

However; as Andris Biedrins is out for an indefinite period due to an emergency appendectomy and forward Stephen Jackson with a painful left foot, the Golden State had to redefined their lineup on the front court. "The times he gets in games this year, he's played well as a rookie," Jackson said. "The only way you're going to get confidence is by playing. With Andris out, I think he's going to get more of a chance to play. We need rebounding bad. I'm pretty sure he'll get a lot of minutes."

If and when that happens, Wright sounds ready. "It'd be good," he said. "We've got a lot of guys (who) are injured. We need guys to step up and fill their roles. When you come in (to the league), you're never completely ready. You just adapt to your surroundings, use your talent to the best of your ability."

Wright doesn't have much weight for the power-forward position he is only 205 pounds,. However, that's eight or nine pounds more than he had at the start of training camp. Wright won't be a bruiser, although he does have the hurdling ability to be an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker.

"I don't want to lose my quickness, but getting stronger is always a goal," Wright said. "You can't really rush the process. You have to continue to work hard." "He's been playing hard in practice, getting better every day," Nelson said. "I certainly like what I see." "We hope he will get better and better, he has great potential."