The first game Christian Wood played against the Dallas Mavericks since his former team publicly released him via free agency was not precisely the retaliation he desired. At Crypto.com Arena, not only did the Los Angeles Lakers squander a spirited fourth-quarter recovery in a 104-101 loss to the Mavs, but Wood was essentially an afterthought.

“I recognize it as my former team,” he stated prior to the match, as reported by Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. “I certainly intend to attack those individuals.”

Wood was limited in his opportunity to satisfy that longing, as he appeared for a mere 15 minutes and observed the intense fourth-quarter surge of Los Angeles from the bench. In the end, he recorded one point, attempted one shot, and collected five rebounds. However, it is not safe to presume that his limited playing time and touches will incite the same level of discord that it has in the veteran’s previous stops throughout his extensive NBA career.

Wood expressed this sentiment prior to kickoff against Dallas, and he further supported it by endorsing team-first principles following his predominantly passive role in Los Angeles’ arduous defeat.

Wood stated, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, “I’m not playing the role I played for the last four or five years, which was being a high-usage guy taking a lot of shots,” following the Dallas loss. “Assuming the character of a role player, I am obligated to assist the team in rebounding if they require assistance. And regardless of their needs, I am always available to assist. There are nights when they will perform performances for me and nights when they will not. “I simply must be ready for that.”

Christian Wood’s role player turn with Lakers

His reputation in the league was severely damaged by a dismal one-season tenure in Dallas. Prior to the season, Wood was acquired from the Houston Rockets for a late first-round pick and salary rags. It was anticipated that he would offer Luka Doncic the multi-level interior scorer and dynamic pick-and-roll companion that the Mavs’ franchise player had never experienced before. Conversely, Wood swiftly found himself in the crosshairs of Jason Kidd, as his inconsistent playing time and pervasive defensive issues hindered his ability to establish an instantaneous rapport with Doncic.Dallas could have extended Wood for the 2022-23 season and potentially retained him for a nominal fee had contenders refrained from making aggressive offers during the initial phases of his free agency last summer. However, the Mavs never expressed interest in re-signing Wood, as multiple sources claimed they had no intention of doing so.His resentful departure from Dallas and subsequent inability to contribute to the team’s victory last season dampened Wood’s interest in becoming a free agent. Wood not only failed to receive the annual salary of $20 million or more that he had previously demanded in an extension from the Mavs, but he also lost all value at the mid-level exception.By acquiring him in early September for a two-year minimum, Los Angeles revealed an aspect of Wood’s game that had been apparent ever since he was acquired by the Houston Rockets via sign-and-trade prior to the 2020-21 season. Wood is inadequately developed to be a team’s leading two offensive options, and his defensive capabilities at center are insufficient to elevate him beyond a third or fourth-string big on a formidable opponent.He is assuming this role for the Lakers in 2023-24, a position he has intermittently demonstrated genuine efficacy but is still acclimating to fully embodying.”Perhaps a plus-15 and five points and five rebounds would have rounded out the evening for me,” Wood said in retrospect, in reference to the loss to Dallas. (“That would have an effect on winning.” I am no longer displaying 20s and 10s, 30s and 20s, or any of the other such items. I mean, I am capable of doing so if presented with the chance. Nonetheless, I believe that doing the little things to assist the team will be more important this year.”In 20.6 minutes per contest, Wood averages 6.8 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 45.8% overall and 31.6% on a career-high volume of three-pointers. As opposed to an on-ball screener or post-up alternative, he is utilized considerably more frequently as a weak-side release valve and quasi-floor-spacer, with 78.9% of his baskets coming off assists, according to NBA.com/stats—certainly the highest percentage of his career. In addition to averaging power forward minutes, Wood is occasionally asked to defend the opposing team’s leading scorer when he is in the lineup with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.Wood is undoubtedly entering a novel stage in his professional journey with the Lakers. Considering that Darvin Ham sometimes substitutes Jaxson Hayes for Wood off the bench or simply rolls with Davis as Los Angeles’ lone traditional powerhouse in the closing minutes of games, it is likely that things have not gone as planned. Even more minutes could be reduced for Wood with the return of Jarred Vanderbilt.Still, Wood has fulfilled every request and reasonable expectation placed upon him by the Lakers. That is encouraging for a player who has struggled to establish himself in the league thus far, and it suggests that his situation and performance may continue to progress throughout the remainder of the season.