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Undrafted, unbowed: Wood going all out to make Sixers
76ers forward Christian Wood grabs a rebound in front of Nets center Brook Lopez. (Mike Groll/AP)
Christian Wood wasn't supposed to be an undrafted rookie free agent with the 76ers.
An athletic and versatile power forward, the 6-foot-11, 220-pounder was projected to be a late first-round pick in June's NBA draft.
But his stock nose-dived after a dismal performance at the NBA draft combine, one where he registered the second-worst body-fat measurement (14.7). It also didn't help that he struggled in his private pregame workouts for teams.
So Wood failed to hear his name called on draft night.
But after playing for the Houston Rockets in the NBA Summer League, he agreed on a partially guaranteed training camp deal. Not even that worked out, as he ultimately signed with the Sixers.
"I have a huge chip on my shoulder for sure," Wood said. "I have to go out every game and prove something. I wake up every day like I'm on a mission. I know that I have to prove something. I have to make the team."
His performance in Monday night's 94-88 loss to the New York Knicks could help him obtain that goal. He finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 19 minutes, 55 seconds while the Sixers rested Nerlens Noel (lower back and left knee contusions) and Jahlil Okafor (right knee soreness). It was the most minutes he's played in the four preseason game.
Two of his plays stood out to coach Brett Brown.
The first when he was trailing on a first-quarter possession, received the ball and smoothly drained a three-pointer. Then in the second quarter, he finished with a one-dribble "incredibly athletic" dunk.
"Just those two clips alone - let alone all the other stuff - make you step back and take notice," Brown said. "Those two plays are high-level NBA plays."
Like he has in the other games, the 20-year-old also hustled for loose balls and rebounds.
"I'm trying to do everything so I can make the team," Wood said.
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