He vowed to play every minute harder than the next and kept his promise, signing off with an outstanding performance for the Otago Nuggets.
The 27-year-old starred with 20 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and made nine assists - just one assist away from recording a rare triple double.
His efforts, and those of fellow import, Antoine Tisby, helped the Nuggets ease to a comfortable 87-71 win against the Harbour Heat at the Edgar Centre on Saturday.
The win lifted the Nuggets to six wins from 16 matches. It is their best return since 2003.
Tisby was just as outstanding with 20 points and 18 rebounds.
He has been one of the best players in the league all season, and Sam King was productive, scoring 19 points and grabbing six boards in 16 minutes.
But the 1450-strong crowd, the largest of the season, saved the loudest cheers for Wright, who did not disappoint with some brutal slam dunks.
The Nuggets missed out on a playoff spot and Wright will return home to Philadelphia today.
But it might not be the last time he is sighted in a Nuggets singlet.
He enjoyed his experience and is very keen to return.
"If they want me back, you'll see me back here," Wright said.
"I couldn't have asked for a better coach or team-mates.
"It has been a great environment.
"I wished we would have won more games.
"We felt like we could have easily won nine or 10 games but we let some games slip in the fourth quarter.
"We have a bunch of young guys and it is a learning experience for them.
"But next year, whether I'm here or not, they will know how to prepare for those games better and will be a lot better outfit."
Wright plans to have a break before getting back into training and preparing for wherever his career takes him next.
The Nuggets seized control early in the match, building a 25-18 lead at the first break.
The Heat had its best period in the second quarter, closing the gap to five.
But in the crucial third quarter the visitors could not find their range and were outscored 24-10.
The lead ballooned to 21 points but the Nuggets proved poor front-runners, letting their standards slip with 12 turnovers in the final period.
The Heat got some cheap baskets and closed the final margin to 16 points.
Former Nuggets point guard Justin Bailey ghosted through gaps that barely existed to score a game-high 22 points, and Marco Alexander chipped in with 14 points.
Charlie Piho added some spark from the bench with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Kevin Smith was poked in the eye early and had a quiet game by his standards, and American centre Zack Atkinson was completely outplayed by Tisby.
Regular season champion the Hawkes Bay Hawks will play the Wellington Saints in one semifinal and the Manawatu Jets will meet the Auckland Pirates in the other. Both matches are at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington this weekend.
The Breakers clicked another piece of the 2012-13 jigsaw into place on Saturday with the signing of Nuggets forward Leon Henry to a new two-year contract, APNZ reports.
Tall Black Henry has proven his worth to the back-to-back champion over the past two seasons, first filling in for Kirk Penney and this season assuming a fulltime on-court role.
Henry will hope to play a role for the Tall Blacks as they seek qualification to the London Olympic Games.
The signing brings to seven the number of players confirmed for next season - Abercrombie, Alex Pledger, Dillon Boucher, Daryl Corletto, CJ Bruton, Mika Vukona and Henry.
Nuggets v Heat
The Scores
Nuggets 87
Antoine Tisby 20, Akeem Wright 20
Heat 71
Justin Bailey 22, Marco Alexander 14
Quarter 25-18, halftime 42-37, third quarter 66-47
