The Los Angeles Lakers’ team dynamic appears to be improving.
Lakers star Anthony Davis took a time while speaking to the media following a recent practice to make a not-so-subtle dig at teammate Christian Wood.
The addition of Wood was motivated as much by the possibility of him contributing as it was by the desire to avoid forcing Davis to play center against his will this season. However, as Davis pointed out, Wood is responsible for results in the first three quarters.
On October 17, Davis told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, “C Wood was talking a lot of stuff, and they was beating the purple team like 14-3 in a five-minute scrimmage.” And we fought back and prevailed, 38-34. C Wood blew a few crucial free throws. Punish him maliciously. Strategy matters. We all know who won’t be on the field for the final stanza.
Davis was obviously making fun of his teammate.
He has already spoken highly of Wood’s abilities and predicted that the young journeyman would prove useful this year.
According to NBA.com, Wood is averaging 7.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 58.3 percent shooting from the free throw line, and 25 percent shooting from three-point range in the preseason. His free throw percentage would be a career low, while his three-point percentage would be the second lowest of his career.
When it comes to Christian Wood, Lakers head coach Jeremy Walton has faith in him.
The preseason does not count, which is good news for Wood and the Lakers. Wood’s percentages from long range and the free throw line were 37.6% and 77.2%, respectively, in the previous campaign. The Lakers believe in Wood despite his history of never staying with the same team for more than two seasons and the murky circumstances surrounding his exit from the Dallas Mavericks.
Especially that of Darvin Ham, the head coach.
During their 2018–19 seasоn with the Milwaukee Bucks, Ham served as Wооd’s cоach. He said he pressured Lakers GM Rоb Pelinka intо signing Wооd.
“I don’t know what happened in Dallas and that’s not my business,” Ham reportedly remarked on October 13 to Marc J. Spears of Andscape. To paraphrase, “I know what he’s going to do for me, and he’s done everything that I expected him to do up to this point since camp has been going on.”
While the Mavericks were looking for replacements, Wood waited until September 5 to sign a two-year, $5.3 million contract with the Lakers in free agency. He has expressed his disappointment with the final outcome in Dallas. The Long Beach, California native said it was a “dream” to play for his local squad.