Kris Bright started his football career with Manurewa AFC in his home city. Bright then played for several clubs throughout New Zealand, including North Shore United in 2003, before joining Waitakere City in 2004. Over two seasons, as a semi-professional with Waitakere City, Bright scored a total of 29 goals before heading to England to trial for Gillingham FC. The trial was unsuccessful, and Bright returned home to play for Canterbury United in the New Zealand Football Championship during 2005.

In mid-2005, Bright was named as one of three players in the New Zealand Knights' apprenticeship scheme through the Charlton Athletic Youth Academy. He did not join the full-time squad of the A-League club, and in the meantime had transferred to Waitakere United for the 2005-06 NZFC season. By the end of the 2005-06 season,

In mid-2006, Bright left for England again, this time to trial at Scottish side Kilmarnock, where he was for a month, playing three games & scoring 2 goals. Although not signed by Kilmarnock, Bright remained in Europe, and in late August began trialling with Dutch Eerste Divisie club Fortuna Sittard, including a match against FC Geleen-Zuid scoring 1 goal. Bright subsequently landed a one year contract with the club.

Bright managed to gain a spot in the starting line-up for the struggling Dutch side. He played in eleven league games, in which he scored one goal.

After his contract with the Dutch side was not renewed for the 2007 season, he signed a six month contract with Norwegian Division 2 club Kristiansund BK. Where he scored 21 goals in 19 games.

In January 2009 Kris signed a 1 and a 1/2 year contract with Greek Super League side Panserraikos F.C., he was given the #32 shirt. He left the Club in July 2009 by mutual consent with a year remaining on his contract, and joined Shrewsbury Town on August 3rd 2009. Bright made a total of 26 appearances in 2009/10, many from the bench and scored twice in the league. Kris was on standby for the New Zealand squad for World Cup South Africa 2010 but just missed out the final cut. Kris will be out of action until the start of the 2011 season after undergoing shoulder surgery.