Landon Buford
Christian Wood is a rising star in the NBA, currently playing as a big man for the Dallas Mavericks. Born in Long Beach, California in 1995, Wood attended high school in Las Vegas before committing to play college basketball at UNLV. After a year with the Rebels, Wood transferred to the University of Michigan, where he played for one season before declaring for the NBA draft.
Wood went undrafted in 2015 but signed with the Philadelphia 76ers as a free agent. He spent time with the 76ers’ G League team before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets, where he made his NBA debut in the 2015-2016 season. Over the next few years, Wood bounced around the league, playing for teams like the New Orleans Pelicans, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Detroit Pistons.
It wasn’t until the 2019-2020 season that Wood truly broke out as an NBA player. He signed with the Detroit Pistons and quickly became a key piece of the team’s rotation. In 62 games, Wood averaged 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while shooting an impressive 56.7% from the field and 38.6% from beyond the arc. His performance earned him widespread recognition and praise from around the league.
In the offseason, Wood signed a three-year, $41 million contract with the Houston Rockets. While his time in Houston was marred by injury and the Rockets’ struggles as a team, Wood still managed to put up impressive numbers. In 41 games, he averaged 21.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 51.4% from the field and 37.4% from three-point range.
Now, Wood finds himself on the Dallas Mavericks, where he is poised to be a key contributor on a team that has its sights set on the playoffs. At 6’10” and 214 pounds, Wood is a versatile big man who can score both inside and outside, rebound at a high level, and defend multiple positions. He has a smooth shooting stroke and can knock down shots from beyond the arc with ease, making him a valuable stretch-four in today’s NBA.
Off the court, He has also been active in the community.
Christian Wood may not be a household name just yet, but he has quickly established himself as one of the most promising young players in the NBA. With his unique skill set, strong work ethic, and commitment to making a positive impact off the court, he is sure to continue making waves in the league for years to come.
Earlier this season, I spoke with Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Sean Sweeney about Christian Wood, who the opportunity coach Wood in Detroit and now in Dallas.
Christian put a lot into his game. I had the opportunity to coach him in Detroit a few years back and to see him mature and keep taking steps forward,” said Sweeney.
“His offensive talent is very very high level and he’s continued to put more to daily improvement trying to build good habits each and every day. So, that’s been fun to see as he’s grown not only as a player but also as a person.”
