Lakers' Christian Wood: Coming Back 'With a Vengeance' This Season After Knee Injury

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIAugust 25, 2024

LOS ANGELES, CA - February 13: Christian Wood #35 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 13, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers big man Christian Wood, whose 2023-24 season was cut short after he underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee, has promised to come back next year with a vengeance.

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Christian Wood sends a message 👀 <a href="https://t.co/MAviPRAeXi">pic.twitter.com/MAviPRAeXi</a>

Wood has been out since Feb. 14, and he underwent the successful surgery in March. For the season, the 28-year-old averaged 6.9 points on 46.6 percent shooting and 5.1 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game.

Wood is with the team for one more year after exercising his player option for the 2024-25 season for $3 million. He figures to be a frontcourt reserve alongside Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes.

Wood has showcased impressive production in the past, notably averaging 19.1 points on 50.7 percent shooting and 9.9 rebounds per game from 2020-2022 for the Houston Rockets.

Houston traded Wood to the Dallas Mavericks in 2022. He largely came off the bench for the Mavs, averaging 16.6 points and 7.3 boards per game.

Wood then signed a deal with the Lakers as a free agent. The 2023-24 season wasn't a good one, but he's clearly determined to put that past him and reclaim his ex-form.