Photo Credit: Carmen Mandato/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Christian Wood Went From Being Undrafted To Becoming The NBA’s Newest Star
Through his first two games of the season, Christian Wood has been living up to the hype surrounding his person and is averaging 27 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.5 blocks and 2.0 3-pointers.
He’s a blast to watch and appears to be everything the Rockets hoped for when they signed him to a 3-year contract worth $41 million.
But even before his move to Houston, Wood had been emerging among the ranks of the top power forwards in the NBA today. He averaged very promising 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds on 56.7% shooting from the field with the Detroit Pistons, in a limited role last season that led to him being a popular name on the free agent market.
Christian Wood also is a prime example of believing in oneself when no-one else appears to do so. In the 2015 NBA Draft, Wood went undrafted. In most cases, the worst thing that can happen to a college player with hopes to make it into the NBA, is to declare for the draft and then not get selected. But after some reassurance from his mother, Wood used this disappointment as fuel.
Per FTW:
“He said, ‘Mom, I’m sorry, I’m a failure.’ I said, ‘You’re not a failure. That doesn’t make you a failure because you went on undrafted,’” she said. “‘Let me tell you, God works in mysterious ways and has a plan for you. I said what you’re going to do is put your head up high. Put your head up high and wipe away those tears, because from this point you’re going to go forth in your career and you’re going to be OK.’”
This is about the saddest picture from an NBA Draft you'll ever see — Christian Wood realizing he's going undrafted. pic.twitter.com/be7ttxLBuT
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) June 26, 2015
Less than five months later, thanks to his hard work and hustle, Wood found himself next to his idol, Kevin Durant, impressing him in the process with his on court performance.
Now, if he keeps up this level of play, he might soon be standing on the same court as Durant during the All-Star game.
