Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s a detailed profile of Christian Wood:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Christian Marquise Wood.
  • Nickname: —
  • Nationality: American.
  • Date of Birth: September 27, 1995.
  • Hometown: Long Beach, California. (University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletics)
  • Height: 6’8″ (2.03 m).
  • Weight: 214 lb (97 kg).
  • Wingspan: 7’3″ to 7’3.25″ has been reported in draft-profile material. (NBA)
  • Shoe Size: —
  • Jersey Number: College — No. 5 (UNLV). NBA — No. 35 with the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers.
  • Position: Forward / forward-center.
  • High School: Findlay College Prep in Henderson, Nevada. Public sources also list Los Alamitos High School and Knight High School before Findlay. (University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletics)
  • College: UNLV. (NBA)
  • NBA Draft: 2015, undrafted. (NBA)
  • Player Archetype: Stretch big / scoring combo big who can function as a floor-spacing 4 or offense-first 5. This is an interpretation based on his role, shot profile, and career usage. (NBA)
  • Primary Offensive Role: Pick-and-pop scorer, secondary interior finisher, and mismatch big who can score from three, in the short roll, and on face-up touches. This is an interpretation based on his profile and production. (NBA)
  • Defensive Role: Help-side rim protector and length-based interior defender rather than a true anchor. This is an interpretation based on his size, block production, and scouting profile. (NBA)
  • Play Style: Fluid, mobile, offense-leaning big with perimeter skill, lob threat value, rebound touch, and shot-blocking tools, though his game has generally been more impactful offensively than defensively. This is an interpretation from the cited profiles and stats. (NBA)
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right-handed shooter.
  • Athletic Profile: Long, mobile, springy, and coordinated for a big, with above-average reach and fluidity. (NBA)
  • Recruiting Status: ESPN top-100 recruit in the 2013 class; ESPN listed him No. 71 overall, while UNLV’s bio notes he was No. 36 overall by Rivals and No. 8 at his position. (ESPN.com)
  • Draft Status Detail: Entered the 2015 draft after his sophomore season at UNLV, was widely discussed as a possible first-round talent, and ultimately went undrafted. (ESPN.com)
  • Injury Status Category: Recovering from significant left knee issues; the Lakers announced arthroscopic knee surgery in March 2024, ESPN reported a second left-knee procedure in September 2024, and the Lakers waived him on February 11, 2025. (NBA)
  • Career Stage: Veteran big man / NBA journeyman scorer. As of the latest official report I checked, he was waived by the Lakers in February 2025. (NBA)
  • Comparison Style: Offense-first stretch big in the mold of a modern scoring 4/5 rather than a bruising traditional center. This is a stylistic comparison, not a one-to-one comp. (NBA)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Philadelphia 76ers (2015-16, 2016)
    • Charlotte Hornets (2016-17)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (2018-19)
    • New Orleans Pelicans (2019)
    • Detroit Pistons (2019-20)
    • Houston Rockets (2020-22)
    • Dallas Mavericks (2022-23)
    • Los Angeles Lakers (2023-25)
  • Championship Rings: None. He did win the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament / NBA Cup with the Lakers, but that is not an NBA championship ring. (NBA)
  • Parents: Mother — Jeanette Stewart. Father — not publicly identified in the reliable sources I checked. (University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletics)
  • Children: I did not find a reliable primary or team source confirming this.
  • Siblings: Derek Stewart. (University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletics)
  • Retirment Age: Not applicable.
  • Retirement Year: Not applicable.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Christian Wood’s player archetype is a skilled stretch big who has spent most of his career offering offense-first value as a floor-spacing frontcourt scorer. Defensively, his role is more about using length as a secondary rim protector and rebounder than anchoring a scheme, because while he has reach and shot-blocking tools, his impact has usually come more on the scoring side. Offensively, he is most comfortable as a pick-and-pop threat, face-up attacker, and mobile finisher who can score inside or pull opposing bigs away from the basket with his jumper. Physically, Wood brings a long frame, real vertical and lateral fluidity for his size, and the kind of wingspan that gives him natural mismatch potential. The play style summary is that he is a modern combo big whose best basketball comes when he is allowed to play freely, stretch the floor, attack slower defenders, and pile up points in space. (NBA)

Player Insights

Christian Wood was productive for the Rockets, but Houston chose not to commit major long-term money to him. After a short stint in Dallas, he signed with the Lakers, where his first season was mixed and did not establish him as a dependable rotation piece. As of 8/30/2024, it was fair to question whether he would receive a significant opportunity in his second Lakers season, and another team may have offered a cleaner path to minutes. Wood’s scoring ability, floor-spacing, and physical tools remained NBA-level, but front offices were likely evaluating whether his overall impact, consistency, and fit justified an ongoing role. (8/30/2024)

Sources:
UNLV Rebels — Christian Wood – Men’s Basketball
NBA.com — Christian Wood | Forward | Los Angeles Lakers
NBA.com — Lakers’ Christian Wood has arthroscopic surgery on left knee
ESPN — Lakers’ Christian Wood has another procedure on left knee
NBA.com — Lakers sign free agent center Alex Len following rescinded Mark Williams trade
Charlotte Hornets — 2015 Draft Prospect | Christian Wood