Sometimes that journey to make it to the NBA is akin to walking through a mine field. A wrong step here or there, and theWright whole process can blow up in a player’s face.

At times, point guard McKinley Wright IV feels like his quest to make an NBA roster has been filled with mines. Undrafted out of Colorado in 2021, lWright played five games last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, then played for the Iowa Wolves, which is the Timberwolves’ G League squad.

For now, Wright is a part of the Dallas Mavericks’ 20-man training camp roster. He figures this gives him his best chance of exploding onto the NBA scene and making a roster this season.

“Me and my agent, we kind of waited it out for a long time before I signed anywhere,” Wright said. “And then we went through all the options and it came down to Dallas and Charlotte, and I like the opportunity over here.”

What mostly attracted Wright to the Mavs is that they have an open roster spot, they need to sign another two-way player, they lost guard Jalen Brunson over the summer in free agency and they have a solid coach in Jason Kidd, who was a point guard during his illustrious NBA career.

That and, “I know J-Kidd loves guys that can guard,” Wright said. “Me, I like to pick up (and guard) 94 feet (from the basket).

“I can handle the ball, play on the ball, off the ball, whatever it takes to help my team win. I’m a creator.”

Wright created enough during Wednesday’s 98-96 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the preseason opener that he finished that game with eight points, a game-high 10 assists, and also had no turnovers in 22 minutes.

To say that Kidd was overly pleased with Wright’s performance is a huge understatement.

“He ran the team well for us,” Kidd said. “Ten assists and no turnovers is a positive.”

WrightIt’s a positive Wright hopes to carry over to the next game when the Mavs play their lone home preseason game on Friday at 7:30 at American Airlines Center against the Orlando Magic.

Wright was 3-of-6 from the field against the Thunder and directed the Mavs’ offensive with the precision of a seasoned veteran.

Wright, who turns 25 on Oct. 25, knows he came to the Mavs armed with an impressive resume.

In 2017, Wright was named Mr. Basketball in Minnesota while playing for Champlin Park High School. And as a freshman at the University of Colorado, he made the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team while averaging 14.2 points and 5.5 assists and having his 175 assists break Chauncey Billups’ Colorado freshman record of 143.

Also, Wright was first team All-Pac-12 during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, and made the Pac-12 All-Defensive team as a junior. In other words, he knows his way around the basketball court, and loves to make his teammates the stars of a game.

“I love to give to my teammates before myself,” Wright said. “I feel like there’s nothing I can’t do.”

A 5-11, 192-pounder, Wright has a great feel for the game and has this unique way of warding off the pressure that comes with the small chance he has of trying to make an NBA team.

“There’s pressure, but I had a former teammate of mine, George King, who always told me there’s no such thing as pressure if you prepare,” Wright said. “So I came into training camp prepared. I played with the USA team right before I came to Dallas and training camp, and that prepared me as well.

“I was prepared coming here and I don’t feel a whole lot of pressure. I’m just doing my job each and every day, doing whatever I can to try and make this roster and provide whatever I can to this team.”

Twitter: @DwainPrice

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