Young players coming into the NBA have one excellent opportunity that they can make the most of. Teams are littered with veteran players, many of who have been great in the past and have a lot of wisdom to offer. And few players have been to the heights that Derrick Rose has; he was the youngest MVP ever before injuries decimated his career.
So when a player like that is around to offer guidance, it can be a huge asset for the younger stars. Christian Wood is an excellent example of this. While Wood has never been an All-Star yet, he has shown that he has the talent to be one of the best in the league. And now that he’s been paired up with Luka Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks, things are looking up for Wood.
And he had the benefit of learning from Derrick Rose when both of them were together in Detroit. Wood’s quality was evident from his days in New Orleans, and it was no different in Detroit. And something Rose said to him during their time together in Michigan is what Wood is now using to motivate himself.
Christian Wood Said Derrick Rose Told Him He Would Be An All-Star In Three Years When They Were Teammates In Detroit
Christian Wood averaged 21 points and nearly 8 rebounds per game during his year with Houston, but it was not enough for him to be an All-Star. His numbers were significantly poorer with the Pistons, but his talent was still on show. He tweeted about his expectations for this season based on what Derrick Rose said to him at the time recently.
When I was with @drose in Detroit he came up to me and told me ima be an all star in 3 years .. it’s the 3rd year since then 👀 ima prove him right . #motivation
— 35 (@Chriswood_5) September 7, 2022
“When I was with @drose in Detroit he came up to me and told me ima be an all star in 3 years .. it’s the 3rd year since then ima prove him right .”
This attitude is an excellent one for Wood to have, he has every opportunity to thrive alongside Luka Doncic. It’s evident that Rose’s words had quite the impact on Wood as well. A former MVP showing belief in you can be huge for a young star. And if Wood can help improve the Mavericks to a top seed in the West, then an All-Star nomination is more likely than not.
