Nick Crain | 1/9/23

Even with NBA League Pass, it’s tough to watch every player across the league closely. The biggest names always rise to the top, but there’s quite a few athletes that are doing incredible things but not getting as much credit as they deserve. Leveraging ProFitX, we can quickly identify players that are flying under the radar or quietly having tremendous seasons. One of those players in the 2022-23 campaign is Christian Wood, who is emerging as a legitimate co-star in this league. What should you know about the Dallas Mavericks forward as he continues to rise as an underrated player?

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Current Production Value

Due for an extension, Wood has proven to be worth every penny he would be able to earn on a new deal with the Mavs. After being acquired by Dallas in the offseason, he’s been one of the more underrated pieces around the league, often being the second-best player on the roster. As of today, his on-court performance is worth almost double what he’s being paid.

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Key Attributes

While he’s a 6-foot-10 forward, Wood’s game extends well outside of the paint. He’s effective near the rim and has great touch, but what makes him special is the ability to stretch the floor. This allows Doncic and others to drive the lane more effectively as Wood’s defender must leave the paint when he’s on the perimeter. On the season, he’s shooting a career-high 40.3% from beyond the arc.

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Important Roles

While Wood has historically been known for being a great offensive player but a lackluster defender, that’s changed of late. He’s been one of the best rim protectors in the league this season, blocking nearly three shots per game since becoming a starter. Offensively, Wood has notched double digit games with at least 25 points this season.

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Offensive Hot Spots

Again, Wood is having the best 3-point shooting season of his career. The two most efficient shots in the modern NBA are layups and triples, both of which make up most of his shot diet. With how the Mavericks like to play, Wood has been the perfect fit to this point. When he starts this season, Dallas is 7-3.