Proud to be the Face of MS
O'BRIEN: He's been playing for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, but make no mistake, Chris Wright is a trailblazer. The first known NBA player who has multiple sclerosis. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has his story. It's this week's "Human Factor."</s>DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): With less than three minutes left against the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks point guard Chris Wright is in the game. Playing in the NBA has been his lifelong dream but it almost didn't come true.</s>CHRIS WRIGHT, DALLAS MAVERICKS: While a student, my whole right leg went numb, right foot went numb, basically it went all the way up to the right side of my body. Last year, Wright was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis -- MS, a disease that damages the protective covering of nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. It's a disease he had never heard of.</s>WRIGHT: I just have to do what I have to do to maintain my life.</s>GUPTA: Doctors told Wright he would never play basketball again. But he responded well to treatment and less than three months after his diagnosis, Wright was back on the court. He made history when he signed a ten-day contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Becoming the first person with MS to play in the NBA. While it may have only been a short stint, Wright believes this won't be the last time he will play in the</s>NBA. WRIGHT: Everything happens for a reason, and everything you go through definitely is not a coincidence.</s>GUPTA: Monthly treatments are keeping his MS from progressing, and he's not shying away from his diagnosis. Wright he's proud to be the face of</s>MS. WRIGHT: Don't be afraid to step out and do what you want to do. That's my message to everyone ahead. Don't believe that's a crippling disease that will define (ph) you the rest of your life. Gupta: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.</s>O'BRIEN: That's a great story. All right, "End Point's" up next. We're back in a moment.