A young boy from Detroit battling cancer had a dream come true thanks to Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards. The heartwarming moment unfolded this past Saturday when the Wolves faced off against the Detroit Pistons — Luca Wright’s hometown team.
The connection was made possible by social media influencer Zachery Dereniowski, who posted on Instagram looking to gift courtside NBA tickets to a deserving fan. That’s when Luca’s story caught his attention.
Luca, who has been fighting leukemia for over a year, is a die-hard basketball fan. His aunt shared his story, and the rest was history.
“He’s been through so much and has handled the hardest thing a kid could go through with such grace,” said his mother, Lacey Wright.
Luca and his dad, Larry Wright, attended the game and met several Timberwolves players — including Anthony Edwards. During their meeting, Luca handed Edwards an orange wristband that reads ‘Love Like Luca.’
In a powerful moment, Edwards paused, looked at Luca, and made a heartfelt promise:
“I’m going to wear this for the rest of my career,” Edwards told him.
Since Saturday, Edwards has kept his word, wearing the wristband in games as a tribute to Luca’s strength and resilience.
“For him to say that and actually wear it to the next game — that’s just amazing,” Luca’s dad said with a proud smile.
The touching moment has inspired fans across the country, with many asking how they can get their own ‘Love Like Luca’ wristband.
Zachery Dereniowski now plans to mass-produce the wristbands, with proceeds going to support families of children battling cancer.
Because of one small gesture, Anthony Edwards and Luca Wright are proving that love, hope, and resilience can create lasting impact both on and off the court.