Christian Wood Reflects on His Early Lakers’ Preseason Performances
Christian Wood's journey in purple and gold is off to a rocky start, but the big man is determined to make his mark in the upcoming season.
In his initial outings as a Los Angeles Laker, Christian Wood openly acknowledged that his first few exhibition games in the purple and gold uniform were less than stellar. Despite enduring another challenging, albeit improved, effort against the Sacramento Kings, the towering center took a moment to share his insights with reporters regarding the preseason thus far.
LA managed to secure a victory against the Kings, largely thanks to D’Angelo Russell’s impressive 21-point performance. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for every member of the purple and gold squad. Young guards Jalen Hood-Schifino and Max Christie struggled with their shooting accuracy, highlighting the Lakers’ ongoing quest for backcourt depth to support Russell, Austin Reaves, and Gabe Vincent.
When it came to the frontcourt, Wood’s comments about finding his rhythm rang true as he delivered an exceptional 20 minutes of play off the bench. The former Maverick contributed 13 crucial points as a reserve player, matching the combined point total of both Taurean Prince and Rui Hachimura in the starting lineup.
An intriguing development emerged as Jaxson Hayes, with only five points and five rebounds in his 20 minutes of action, potentially opened the door for Wood to claim the starting center role for the Lakers. Notably, LeBron James and Anthony Davis opted to sit out, providing Wood with an opportunity to shine in their absence.
Despite the challenging competition for roster spots, Coach Darvin Ham finds himself in a fortunate position with a wealth of talented options. Wood’s preseason debut during the team’s loss to the Golden State Warriors may not have been his finest hour, but he has steadily increased his scoring output in the subsequent games.
As the anticipation builds for the Lakers’ highly awaited 2024 season, Christian Wood, along with Lakers fans worldwide, is eager to showcase his skills for Laker nation, near and far.
Key Takeaways:
- Christian Wood acknowledges a less-than-ideal start to his Lakers’ preseason journey.
- Young guards Jalen Hood-Schifino and Max Christie struggle with shooting accuracy, emphasizing the team’s need for backcourt depth.
- Wood’s impressive bench performance may earn him a starting role, especially after Jaxson Hayes’ underwhelming outing.
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