Christian Wood’s Journey and Heartbreak
In 2015, Christian Wood faced a devastating blow when he went undrafted out of UNLV in the NBA draft. This disappointment was compounded by the fact that his girlfriend at the time decided to end their relationship following the draft. Wood had high hopes of being selected late in the first round or early in the second round.
Wood had invited his loved ones to join him at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas to witness the draft, which led to a now-infamous photo of him slumped in his seat after the disappointment.
The perception of Wood as immature haunted him and resulted in NBA teams passing over him during the draft. In an interview with The Ringer, Wood expressed his desire for a change in attitude. The now 27-year-old forward also mentioned his ex-girlfriend, who broke up with him after the 2015 draft.
Notably, Wood never saw his girlfriend again after that crucial draft night.
Christian Wood’s Girlfriend’s Decision Post-2015 NBA Draft
Christian Wood attributed his attitude at the time to an excessive amount of confidence in his abilities, stating:
“When I was younger, I just assumed I was more skilled than everyone, that my ability was going to surpass them. But I didn’t realize that there were people just as talented as me, and I was convinced to try to be even better than them. I didn’t know that before.”
Wood has since played for seven NBA teams in seven seasons, as well as G League teams such as the Delaware 87ers, Greensboro Swarm, and Wisconsin Herd.
However, Wood’s career has taken a positive turn. After playing for multiple teams, he had a breakout season with the Detroit Pistons in 2019-20, leading to a three-year, $53 million contract with the Houston Rockets. Wood acknowledged that everything changed for him once he had a breakthrough season:
“I never got an opportunity. In Detroit, I finally did. When that happened, it was over.”
Currently playing for the Dallas Mavericks, Wood is averaging 17.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He is coming off a strong season (17.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.3 apg) in Houston, where he started 67 of the 68 games he played. Wood has undoubtedly achieved success despite taking a path less traveled by most NBA players.
Wood’s Challenging Night Worsened by Girlfriend’s Departure
Undrafted status wasn’t the only unfortunate event that transpired for Christian Wood. His girlfriend at the time decided to end their relationship after he went undrafted. In the aforementioned Ringer interview, Wood recalled that the last time he saw her was when he dropped her off at the airport.
“I lost my girlfriend that evening, as well,” Wood said. “I dropped her off at the airport after the draft and at absolutely no point ever saw her in the future.”
These days, Wood possesses an improved mindset and has become a respected player league-wide. Since joining the starting lineup, he has had a significant impact on the Dallas Mavericks. When Wood starts alongside Luka Doncic, the Mavericks boast a 6-1 record, including a six-game winning streak—the longest of the season.
In the 582 minutes they’ve shared on the court, the Mavs have a 120.2 offensive rating, 113.2 defensive rating, and a net rating of 7.0.
Wood’s determination and perseverance have paid off, earning him a $53 million contract. His story serves as a testament to persevering through adversity and ultimately achieving success.
Christian Wood’s Personal Details
- Real Name: Christian Marquise Wood
- Age: Born on September 27, 1995, making him 27 years old.
- Height and Weight: Christian Wood stands at 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 97 kg.
- Net Worth: Estimated to be between $1 million to $5 million.
- Ex-Girlfriend: Maya Benberry.
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