Rockets GM Rafael Stone lauds ‘unique’ skills of Christian Wood

“He’s just a very talented basketball player that can do things at his size that very few people can,” Stone told the Houston Chronicle.

At 6-foot-10 and 223 pounds, new Houston center Christian Wood is tall and agile enough to finish well near the basket, especially in the pick-and-roll game as a potential roll man for superstar guard James Harden.

Yet, having shot 38.6% from 3-point range last season, he should be effective for Harden and the Rockets in “pick and pop” scenarios, too.

That combination of size, athleticism, and skill makes Wood very unique, per new Rockets GM Rafael Stone. Wood is Stone’s first major acquisition since taking Houston’s lead basketball operations job in late October.

Here’s what Stone told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle about his new center, shortly after the acquisition was made official:

His skills, his talent — I think he’s just a very talented basketball player that can do things at his size that very few people can. He can stretch [defenses]. He can attack off the dribble. He can make a play for others. And he can finish at the rim. That’s a unique combo. …

He can pop and he can pick-and-roll. That’s what makes him unique. Very few guys can do that.

In Tuesday evening’s official announcement, which included a highlight video, here’s how the Rockets described the Wood acquisition:

Wood was eligible for the 2015 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at UNLV.  The 25-year-old finished eighth in voting for the Most Improved Player award in 2019-20 while averaging 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 62 games for Detroit.

Over his final 22 games played last season, Wood averaged 19.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg while shooting 56.0% from the floor, 40.3% from 3-point range, and 77.4% from the foul line.  For the season, he joined Enes Kanter (2016-17) as the only players in league history to have averaged at least 13.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg in fewer than 22.0 mpg in a single season.

Training camp for the 2020-21 NBA season begins next Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Toyota Center in downtown Houston. The integration of Wood, who is expected to be the Rockets’ starting center, will be a key storyline.

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