For KJ Wright, the decision to embark on a career in sports journalism came down to a simple reason: her deep love for basketball. Growing up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, KJ remembers being surrounded by the game since a very young age. From her mom's career as a college referee to her dad's involvement with Canada Basketball to her brother's journey playing the game, basketball was a sport she quickly became passionate about and determined to become immersed in. It was during her time in college though, after playing basketball for five years, that KJ began exploring different career paths she could pursue upon graduation. Through it all, there were three things that remained at the forefront of her mind: 1) she wasn't ready to give up basketball, 2) she wanted to find a way to remain close to the game, and 3) she wanted to tell athlete's stories. Before she knew it, an opportunity to merge her passion for journalism and sports emerged. KJ earned a scholarship to cover the World University Games as a journalist. This was it. This was her introduction into the world of sports journalism. After working the Games around five or six times, KJ was ready for the next step in her career. "I want to get to basketball. I want to get to basketball," she recalls thinking. Sure enough, she did just that. KJ volunteered as a sideline reporter covering high school sports and kick-started her journey in basketball coverage. She was on a mission. In 2019, all her hard work paid off.
KJ joined the Memphis Grizzlies organization as a host and digital contributor. She hasn't looked back since. From bringing fans close to the action on gamedays to giving them exclusive off the court insight into the players through her podcast “Just Grizzlies,” KJ continues to be driven by her love for basketball and commitment to captivating storytelling. Incredible!
Let’s start with your journey early on! How was that transition from college into the world of sports journalism and media like for you?
I would say, looking back, my memory probably glosses over a lot of the difficult parts. Looking back it’s like: “Oh, what a simple transition from learning about journalism to the real life application of it.” But, it was really hard. I graduated with my first degree in 2013 and then my second in 2014; and I didn't get my first full-time job until the end of 2019. I went five years without full-time work. It is so easy and there were so many times throughout those five years where I was like, “Maybe this isn't for me. Maybe it's not going to happen. What's my Plan B?” This is so silly to think about, but basketball had been such a massive part that I truly didn’t know if I had a Plan B. As a kid, I just wanted to play basketball. It's such a huge part of you that I didn’t know if I had a Plan B. There were so many times where I got let go. I was pitching freelance stories and I was getting so many ‘no’s’.
In the back of my mind I was thinking: “It takes just one ‘yes’. It just takes one.” Within those five years (though), it was a really hard time—not only financially and being able to live, but also trying to keep that kind of love and passion that you want towards the job that you are trying to get. So I would say that the transition was not easy at all, but it's also such a fun industry. Even the parts where I'm working these World University Games, or where I'm volunteering at these high school games, you could really take a step back and be like: “Right now I'm getting paid to watch sports, to talk about something that I already love talking about, and (something) that I would already be talking to my friends about. Now, I'm making it my job.” I think to answer the question in a very long form, this is a very hard industry to crack into but it's so worth it.
In 2019, you joined the Memphis Grizzlies organization as a host and digital contributor. Take us through that journey! What has this experience been like for you?
I am so happy here. I came in 2019, so that meant that I came in the same year that the head coach came in. I came in the same year as the franchise player in Ja Morant came in. So I've never experienced the NBA without a lot of the people who are still here, which is such a rare thing in this league. I think Taylor Jenkins, the head coach, is one of only I think three or four coaches that have been in the league on the same team since 2019. It's been really fun to be able to grow with the coaching staff, with the players, and build relationships. It's made my job so much easier. It's been really rewarding though because I wanted to be in the NBA. I knew that was what I wanted to do, so to have my first big ‘yes’ that someone gave me be with an NBA team was a dream. On top of it being with an NBA team, they really let me be creative. Your job is what your job is, but then it's like: “What else can you pitch? How else can I grow myself?” I pitched a podcast with the players because I felt like there was no content where you were getting to know the players off the court. I was like, “We have such great human beings. We highlight their basketball all the time, but I want fans to fall in love with them as humans.” I pitched that and it's one of our most successful things that we’ve published now. It's just so rewarding to see your ideas come to life in something that I would consider a dream job like working for an NBA team. They trust me to do that. I'm seriously so thankful.
Diving into your podcast “Just Grizzlies,” what was the inspiration behind creating this show?