“ Most Guys Would Fold ” – The Undefeated

Painful memories crossed Christian Wood’s mind as he signed a three-year, $ 41 million contract at the Houston Rockets offices in November.

Not written.

Waived by several NBA teams.

Cut by a team in China even before playing in a game.

Many stays in G League.

Through it all, Wood believed in himself and was ultimately rewarded for this offseason.

“The long-term contract meant a lot to me,” Wood, 25, told The Undefeated in a phone interview on Sunday. “It showed me how hard I work and how much I went from a minimum, unsecured contract to a waiver over and over that I couldn’t even tell you to sign three years, $ 41 million. dollars. It’s incredible.

“Don’t be arrogant, but I actually think I’m worth more than that.”

The 6-foot-10 center averages 23.6 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game on a Rockets roster that also includes stars James Harden and John Wall. Most improved candidate for Player of the Year at the start, Wood was a bright spot for a Houston team that had to deal with the fallout from Harden’s recent trade request.

Rockets first-year head coach Stephen Silas, who was assistant coach of the Charlotte Hornets when Wood was there during the 2016-17 season, said he would give “C-Wood” an “A” up. now.

“Get some success under his belt and people get to see what he can do. And now that the [center] the position has changed a bit, it helped him, ”said Silas.

“In Charlotte he was a young child. But now he’s matured and he’s good. He’s really good.

FROM UNDRAWN TO JOURNEYMAN

Wood entered the 2015 NBA Draft after his sophomore year at UNLV, in which he averaged 15.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. ESPN.com screened him as a second-round pick, but Wood believed he might be selected at the end of the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers or Memphis Grizzlies.

On draft night, he gathered with family and friends for a draft night in a hotel suite in Las Vegas. But not only did the Lakers and Grizzlies pass it, but the other 28 teams did too. Wood described it as one of the “worst nights” of his life and later learned that his work ethic had been questioned by NBA teams. Only 19 at the time, Wood also began to question himself.

“It was a dark moment where I was like, ‘When am I going to have an NBA job? Will I be able to support my family? It was tough, ”Wood said.

“But I got over it. Well, my mentality after that was just, “Destroy everyone and show the world what you can be.” “

Wood would actually start his professional career with the Rockets, playing for their Summer League team in 2015. But Houston didn’t offer him a contract, so he signed a minimum deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Wood would play sparingly in 17 games during the 2015-16 season and spend most of his time with the Delaware 87ers in the G League, averaging 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds.

The following season, he signs with Charlotte, but it’s more or less the same. He played sparingly in 13 games for the Hornets, even though he averaged 19.6 points and 10.1 rebounds while playing for their G League team, the Greensboro Swarm. Silas saw Wood’s potential but added that there was still a lot of growth needed at the time.

“I saw a very talented player do a lot of different things,” said Silas. “But he was young and inconsistent.

After playing for the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns Summer League teams in 2017, Wood did not receive any offers from the NBA, so he signed with the Fujian Sturgeons of the Chinese Basketball Association. But about a month after Wood arrived, the Sturgeons added another former NBA player, Mike Harris, and finally gave up on Wood before the start of the season.

Wood considered to be cut in China as a warning signal.

“This one was probably the biggest test point for me in my life,” said Wood. “I think I have NBA talent and can play in the NBA, then [Fujian] cut myself. They say I’m not good enough. They don’t think I’m ready to play in the ABC. It was a little crazy for me and that’s when the light came on.

“I had no other choice after that. I was kicked out of a team before that and then pulled out of China. So now I am here looking for an NBA job. So I have to do whatever I can to try to be a part of the squad which means being a G Leaguer.

Wood averaged 23.3 points and 10.4 rebounds in the G League with the 87ers in the 2017-18 season, but never played a game for the Sixers. In the 2018-19 season with the Milwaukee Bucks, he dominated with the G League Wisconsin herd, averaging 29.3 points and 14.1 rebounds. But Wood would only play 13 games for the Bucks and was ultimately given up, leaving him wondering on this day what might have been if he had teamed up with twice MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“I was just wondering why I couldn’t get down and what should I do to try to get down to play for this team. I understand at the time (the Bucks) were the No.1 team in the league. But I was recording so many numbers, ”said Wood.

The New Orleans Pelicans claimed Wood’s rights on March 20, 2019, and it was there that Wood said then-Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry helped change the trajectory of his career. career by giving him the opportunity to play. Wood would make the most of his time in New Orleans averaging 16.9 points and 7.9 rebounds in eight games. New Pelicans general manager David Griffin would give up Wood on July 15, 2019 to sign free agent guard JJ Redick, but despite being cut for the fourth time, Wood was confident he was on the point of making a breakthrough.

“Most guys would fold or say it’s not for me after maybe the second or third time I got called off by a team,” Wood said. “And maybe even quit after maybe being kicked out of a foreign team. But after that, what’s the next step? I would just say, ‘Just have that resilience and never give up with you. You have come this far. You bet on yourself. Just keep betting on yourself. “

drill

Former Detroit Pistons assistant general manager Malik Rose saw Wood’s talent, but said there were a lot of little things that continued to damage Wood’s reputation off the field after the 2018-19 season. . Rose named immaturity, punctuality and problems with concentration as the main elements.

“You hear it all,” Rose, now vice president of basketball operations with the NBA, told The Undefeated. “It was never anything malicious. Knucklehead stuff. Late to practice. Late on a bus. I can’t concentrate on a room. Missing a workout. I tend to give more strings to young players, especially millennials. I think back when I was 21, 22, I didn’t make the best decisions either.

Rose and the Pistons asked Wood for waivers on July 17, 2019. They were the only NBA team to make a waiver request on Wood, a source said. Wood ended up beating veteran guard Joe Johnson, who was struggling with injuries, for last place on the 2019-20 Pistons roster.

Pistons head coach Dwane Casey quickly fell in love with Wood’s play on both sides of the field and prompted him to make the squad. Part of Wood’s growth came from Casey’s relentless love when he made mistakes or had gaps in games and practices.

“I know he’s talented. I’m trying to teach him how to be a great player, ”Casey told reporters in Detroit last season. “I went to the wall to make sure he was there. It’s about doing the right thing. To wear properly. If he had, he probably wouldn’t have been with five different teams because he’s a very talented young man. It will pay off for him.

Wood averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game in 62 games for the Pistons during the 2019-20 season. He also shot 56.7% from the field and nearly 40% from a distance of 3 points. After the All-Star break, Wood took it to another level, averaging 24.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game before the pandemic ended the Pistons’ season on March 11. .

Wood credits Casey with his breakthrough season.

“He has always trusted me. I was still playing behind Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin at the time. But [Casey] would say, “This kid is talented. We just have to give him an opportunity in the system and prove him right. And that’s what he did, ”Wood said.

Wood’s strong play has made him an intriguing free agent this past season. The Pistons were keen to re-sign Wood, but an NBA source said they were not interested in paying more than $ 8 million a year. So, on November 20, Wood struck a signing-and-trade deal with the Rockets.

The deal would net him $ 13 million in his debut season after earning $ 4.3 million in his previous NBA stops. It would reunite him with Silas. And that gave him a chance to play with two All-Star guards.

“I love to play with James and John,” said Wood. “We have a great relationship. James is one of the best pick-and-roll goalies in the league. And I think I’m one of the best big pick-and-rolls in the league. You put us together, it’s a difficult duo to stop, especially at the end of the game. And then having John back, and if he can keep this game he’s playing in right now, then we’re a tough team to beat in the West.

It took a while, but Wood finally has safety in the NBA. Don’t expect him to be satisfied, however. He now has the pressure to stand out in the NBA rather than just keep a spot on the list.

“He has a lot to prove,” Silas said. “We have a lot to prove as a team. But he got off to a good start.

Wood’s individual goal is to become an All-Star this season, win the 2020 NBA Most Improved Player award and earn another contract as he returns to being a free agent again at just 27. More than anything, he still has a chip on his shoulder.

“I am honored by my debut,” said Wood. “It’s a new start. And I really appreciate it.