Some folks anticipated Christian Wooden to have a huge effect on the Los Angeles Lakers when the workforce signed him final summer season. Nonetheless, he shot poorly, particularly from 3-point vary, and a knee sickness ended his season early.
He ended up having surgical procedure for his unhealthy knee a bit of over a month in the past, and on the time he was anticipated to be re-evaluated in eight weeks. Meaning he’ll miss at the very least the primary two weeks of the common season.
Wooden determined to train his participant possibility this summer season as a substitute of opting out to develop into a free agent. He defined why he did this to return to the Purple and Gold.
By way of Lakers Nation:
“I imply, in case you actually take a look at the market, I completed my season damage,” Wooden stated at Lakers media day. “So it is fairly robust going into the summer season and getting what you suppose you are price in case you’re injured. So this thought in my head and that is the place I wish to be, you recognize. That is my hometown, that is my dream workforce to play for. So it was a no brainer to strive to return and be even higher than final yr. I feel I wasn’t capable of present every little thing I may do, I had some nagging accidents all through the season and I wasn’t 100% the entire season. I feel once I get again to one hundred pc, you will see the outdated me once more.
Maybe beneath new head coach JJ Redick, a wholesome Wooden may contribute like he did within the three seasons previous to the final one. Throughout that span, he averaged 18.1 factors per recreation whereas taking pictures 50.9% from the sphere and 38.1% from 3-point vary.
Nonetheless, through the 2023-24 marketing campaign, he shot 46.6% general and simply 30.7% from downtown.
This text was initially revealed on LeBron Wire: Christian Wooden explains why he determined to stick with the Lakers
