SALT LAKE CITY – In a relatively small period of time, Christian Wood has shown he might be on the cusp of making big gains. Since his first professional season ended three months ago, the lanky, rangy 6’11” power forward has devoted himself to development. The results have subsequently revealed themselves in the form of the box lines from the 76ers’ first two Utah Jazz Summer League games.Monday, in the Summer Sixers’ debut versus Boston, Wood topped all scorers with 20 points. Less than 24 hours later, in the Sixers’ match-up with San Antonio, the University of Nevada – Las Vegas product punched in a team-best 19 points.Not only is Wood pacing the Sixers offensively in Salt Lake City, he’s holding his own on the glass as well. His 12 rebounds match James Webb III’s total for the most on the club.”He’s confident right now, and feels like he belongs out here in a different place than maybe he would have a year ago,” said Billy Lange, the Sixers’ assistant coach who’s running the team in Utah. “You see confidence in his offensive game – driving, catching and shooting, making some quicker decisions, going after rebounds.”The source of Wood’s increased confidence is two-fold. For starters, he’s got a year under his belt. Last season, he appeared in 49 games – 17 with the Sixers, and 32 with the Delaware 87ers, the the Sixers’ NBA Development League affiliate. Wood now knows what to expect.”Just experience, I think it goes a long way,” Wood said following Tuesday’s game. He averaged 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 8.5 with the Sixers, while also accounting for 17.3 points and 9.4 boards per contest with the Sevens. Wood added, “You can see a lot that goes on on the floor with the experience having played with the Sixers for a year.”The second factor that has helped Wood make an impact in the Utah Jazz Summer League is that he’s combined his experience with a determined work ethic. As injuries to Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and Richaun Holmes piled up in the frontcourt towards the end of the previous season, Wood was called up from Delaware for the final three weeks of the year. After that, he went back to work almost immediately. “I was in the gym every day,” said Wood, who attributed his progress to Lange, assistant coach for strength and conditioning Todd Wright, and late assistant Sean Rooks.”I didn’t really take any days off besides the weekend,” he said. “[I’m] glad it’s paying off for me.”As much as Wood has concentrated on sharpening his skills, he’s also made sure to add muscle to his once-wiry frame. Wood estimates he currently weighs 235 pounds, up 15 pounds from the end of the season, and believes the extra strength is paying dividends.”I can get to the rim easier now than I could a couple months ago,” said Wood, whose 18 free throw attempts top all players in Utah [he’s made 12 of them]. “I think me lifting, staying in the gym, doing that, it’s gotten better.” Heading into the Thursday’s Jazz Summer League finale versus Utah, Wood has converted 12 of his 17 field goal attempts, and, in displaying another dimension of his game, hit three of five three-point tries. He went four for 11 from outside the arc with the Sixers last year, and 22 for 87 from the perimeter for the 87ers.”He’s like a five-man Shawn Marion a little bit, almost,” Lange said, when asked to project Wood’s potential. “I think it might be a little early to figure out who he is.”But, following a pair of quality summer league performances, Wood has Lange convinced of one thing. “I think he’s proving himself as a player in this league.”
When the Sixers face the Jazz Thursday at the John M. Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah, Ben Simmons is expected to be available. The first overall selection in this year’s draft battled calf cramping Monday, and did not play Tuesday.
