Former Milwaukee Bucks player joins LA Lakers

Christian Wood will be playing under ex-Milwaukee assistant coach Darvin Ham.

Matthew Dugandzic | Sep 8, 2023

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Christian Wood is the latest addition to the new-look Los Angeles Lakers. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the 6-foot-10 center has agreed on a two-year, $5.7 million deal with the Lakers. The deal includes a player option for the 2024-25 season, Wojnarowski added.

Finding his place in the NBA

Wood declared for the 2015 NBA Draft but went undrafted. He was signed by the Philadelphia 76ers on September 27, 2015. After the Sixers waived him in 2016, Wood went to the Delaware 87ers, and then back to the Sixers.

Wood then moved on to the Charlotte Hornets and then back to Delaware. It was on August 14, 2018 that the UNLV product was signed by the Bucks after his strong showing in the Summer League.

Wood played just 13 games for the Bucks before he was waived on March 18, 2019. He never got to shine with the Bucks, where he only averaged 2.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.2 assists. While with the Bucks, Wood was also assigned to the team’s G-League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd.

Wood’s stint with the Bucks was cut short after the team was forced to adjust its lineup after it was hit by a number of injuries. He was let go to open a roster spot for guard Tim Frazier.

Wood, who will turn 28 this month, played with the Dallas Mavericks last season. He was with the Houston Rockets in the previous two seasons. While in Dallas, Wood averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Breakout season

It was during his first season with the Rockets that Wood was able to establish himself as a dependable big man as he ended the 2020-21 season with averages of 21 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.8 steals.

At the Lakers, Wood will be joining head coach Darvin Ham, a former assistant coach in Milwaukee. Wood is the latest key acquisition of the Lakers after bringing in Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes. The Lakers also re-signed Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura.

Published Sep 8, 2023

MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.