NBA Draft Blog Interview with Christian Wood

Though he was just a role player at UNLV as a freshman, sometimes playing 5 or 6 minutes, sometimes playing 20, there was something about watching Christian Wood play that made you sense that he was going to become a special player to watch.

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Wood’s chance would come as a sophomore, where the almost 6’11 forward showed tremendous skill for his size, with the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. After a sophomore year where he impressed many with his game, Wood is ready to take on his next challenge at the NBA level, though he will take the lessons he learned in his two seasons in Las Vegas with him.

After the team lost many of their key contributors, including its five leading scorers, after the 2014 season, Wood knew that he would need to step up the next year if the Rebels were be successful. “I had matured a lot between my freshman and sophomore seasons,” said Wood. “I knew I was going to need to step up into a leader role, and I stayed at school to put in the work I needed to improve. The whole experience taught me a lot about being a team player.”

Wood averaged just 13 minutes per game as a freshman, and he realized that he had to do more than work on his game to succeed. “It was important for me to develop a winning mindset, and to stay focused on having us play together as a team,” Wood said. “It wasn’t always going to be easy, but I learned you just need to take it day-by-day and things will improve.”

Though he battled some inconsistency early in his sophomore season, Wood emerged as one of the Mountain West’s top players, averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds, as well as almost 3 blocks, per game. Wood had 18 double-doubles this past season, including a tremendous 27-point, 19-rebound game against Fresno State in early February, followed up the next game with 31 points and 9 rebounds against Air Force. The highlight of the season may have been Wood’s 24-point, 10-rebound performance against Arizona, a game in which the Rebels upset the Wildcats.

The whole season didn’t go exactly to plan, as the young team struggled with their own inconsistencies through the season, made worse when leading scorer Rashad Vaughn’s season ended in February due to a knee injury. The Rebels finished with an 18 and 15 record, and with the end of the season, Wood had to make a decision to whether to return for his junior season, or declare for the NBA Draft along with teammate Vaughn.

Near the end of April, the decision was made, and Wood entered his name into the NBA Draft, though it wasn’t an easy decision for him. Still, he realized that there are parts of his game which would appeal to the NBA teams, and he still has room to improve. “I think my versatility will play well at the NBA level,” explained Wood. “I can take bigger guys off the dribble, or post-up on smaller defenders. Plus, I can help in different roles on the defensive end.”

Wood has been working out at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas in between NBA team workouts, and he’s keyed in on some specific areas where he knows he needs to improve. “I think the biggest things for me are getting stronger and becoming a more consistent shooter,” said Wood. “I really think added strength will allow me to be more aggressive on the court.”

Last month, Wood took part in the NBA Combine in Chicago, and came away impressed with what he learned through the week. “Taking part in the combine really teaches you a lot about the NBA as a business,” said Wood. “You have to go in with a business mindset, and treat being there just like you would a job interview.”

Since the Combine, many teams have looked to bring Wood in for a workout, including Portland, Toronto, Phoenix, Milwaukee, and new NBA Champion Golden State, among others, and he will visit Washington on the Tuesday right before the NBA Draft. Though it’s a grueling experience, Wood has gotten a lot out of it. “It’s really been a fun process, and it’s a great opportunity to show what I can bring to a team,” said Wood. “The most important thing is you just have to go out there and give it all you have each time on the court.”

In just a few days, Wood will hear his name called along with 59 other players, and he realizes that he will have to put even more work in. “I know there will be adjustments that I’ll need to make for the NBA game, like getting stronger,” said Wood. “Whatever work I need to do to improve and help my team, I’m ready for it.”

As the next step in his career is about to begin, Wood is ready to prove to teams that he will be a valuable addition to their organization. “I’m a team guy first, and I’ll bring my best effort in everything I do,” said Wood. “I know I have a lot to prove, but I’m excited for the chance to do just that.”

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