Los Angeles Lakers center Christian Wood underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Monday and will be re-evaluated by team doctors in about eight weeks, the team announced.
In a social media post on Monday, Wood wrote, “Damn… I was just feeling like my old self again and on a high. A bit of a setback with the return of Major, and to my fans, don’t stop believing in me.”
Damn.. I was just feeling like my old self again and in high shape… A small setback with a big comeback, and to my fans, don’t stop believing in me..🙏🏽
— 35 (@Chriswood_5) September 9, 2024
Wood, who turns 29 on Sept. 27, missed the final two months of last season with a left knee injury and had his first arthroscopic knee procedure in March. The nine-year veteran appeared in 50 games (one start) in his first campaign with the Lakers.
The UNLV product averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 17.4 minutes per game while shooting 46.6% from the field, 30.7% from 3-point range, and 70.2% at the free throw line. He last played on February 14 in Utah.
The Los Angeles Lakers will play six regular season games before Nov. 4, now eight weeks from Monday, before Christian Wood returns.
Lakers coach Darwin Ham praised Wood in January for keeping his game simple.
“You make quick decisions, keep it simple and do the little things,” Ham said. “He just rebounds, he sets good screens, he rolls, he shoots when he’s open and he doesn’t hesitate. They lock him out, he drives down. He doesn’t try to play football anymore.”
Additionally, in Los Angeles’ 129–115 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on December 15, he recorded a season-high 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks in 30 minutes off the bench.
Wood picked up his $3 million player option to stay with the Lakers this offseason. This is part of a two-year, $5.75 million contract he signed with the team through September 2023.
The Lakers will open training camp on Oct. 1 and begin preseason play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 4 in Palm Springs. Los Angeles also opens its regular season against the Timberwolves on Oct. 22.
That’s six weeks from Tuesday. The Lakers will play six regular season games before Nov. 4, which is exactly eight weeks from Monday. Other contenders for those championships include the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Toronto Raptors.
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