Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Robert Marvi

Christian Wood exercises player option, will remain with the Lakers

One of the problems the Los Angeles Lakers had down the stretch of this season and in the playoffs was a lack of depth, especially in the frontcourt.

Forward Jarred Vanderbilt, a key reserve dating to the middle of last season, suffered a midfoot sprain in early February and never returned. His defense, rebounding and overall energy could’ve greatly helped in the first round of the playoffs.

Overall, the Lakers’ offense was probably a bigger problem than their defense in that playoff series versus the Denver Nuggets. Their bench gave them next to nothing offensively, and their offense dried up in the second half of each of the series’ five games.

This is where Christian Wood could’ve helped. The backup big man went on the shelf in February because of a knee ailment, and although he was available for Game 4 and Game 5, he didn’t get onto the court.

He tweeted a few days ago that he loved his first year with L.A. Indeed, the 2023-24 campaign was his first year with the Lakers, as he exercised his player option for next season in order to remain with the team.

Wood, who was born in Long Beach, California, was mostly a disappointment this season. His per-36 scoring average and shooting efficiency dropped compared to recent seasons, but his rebounding helped the Lakers, and perhaps sticking around will result in a boost in his offensive production.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.