Player of the game
While it was reassuring to see the duo of Sterling Brown and D.J. Wilson put in solid outings on the night, it was Christian Wood who made the strongest impression of any player for the Bucks in their opening Summer League game this year.
Playing just 18 minutes, Wood put up 23 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, while knocking down 9-of-15 shots from the field.
It took some time for the former Runnin’ Rebel to get into the swing of things, much like both teams in general throughout the first quarter. But that started to change in the second quarter as Wood jumpstarted the Bucks with a string of scores off of second chance opportunities and at the free throw line late in the period.
Once Wood found his rhythm, all Pistons players had a tough time slowing him down or avoiding his presence on both ends of the floor, considering the number of rejections he sent away at the rim and vicious dunks he threw down as well.
For a player that’s been continuously knocking on the door of the league throughout his young career, Wood has been through this rodeo a number of times since going undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft.
When asked by Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about where he’s looking to make an impact when he steps foot on the floor with the Bucks this year, Wood said he’s going off of the experience and advice he’s garnered in previous Summer League outings:
"“It’s competing, making multiple efforts on both sides of the floor,” Wood said. “That’s really what you gotta do. Everybody’s going to come in here and try to score and try and do their own thing, but scouts and teams aren’t looking at that. They’re looking for the little things, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”"
If the 22-year-old continues to do that in Las Vegas, he may very well lock down a spot in the league in some capacity when this year’s Summer League is all said and done.