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Houston Rockets: LeBron James has high praise for Christian Wood

By N.B. Lindberg

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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Houston Rockets
Christian Wood #35 of the Houston Rockets (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

Houston Rockets’ center Christian Wood has had a torrid start to the season and even LeBron James has taken notice.

While the Houston Rockets disappointed in their 120-102 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night, LeBron James was quite impressed by Christian Wood. Right before LeBron attempted a free throw you can see him say to Marc Gasol, “hold him, hold his a**…guy is trouble,” in reference to Christian Wood.

“ok ok….hold him. hold his ass…[that] guy is trouble, hold him down.”

love this. LeBron knows how good Christian Wood has gotten. pic.twitter.com/4T3idlIjxt

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) January 11, 2021

The highest praise an athlete can receive is the recognition of their peers and when that recognition is that the only way to stop them is to cheat, that means they’re absolutely balling. That being said, LeBron James is right about Christian Wood, the only way to stop him right now is to hold him back.

Through seven games Wood is averaging 23.3 points and 9.7 rebounds a game on 54.1-percent shooting. Even in a Rockets defeat, Wood posted a tremendous stat line of 23 points on 10 of 20 shooting from the field.

Christian Wood is poised for even more success

If LeBron thinks the only way to stop Wood is to tell a former defensive player of the year recipient, Marc Gasol, to literally hold him then the Rockets have themselves an absolute stud. When the Rockets signed Wood to a three-year $41 million contract this offseason there was some risk involved in the signing.

Wood had a short track record of success and only started 12 games for the dreadful Detroit Pistons last year. However, Wood has rewarded the Rockets’ faith in him and looks poised to make his first All-Star team.

While LeBron was telling Marc Gasol to hold Wood, he hasn’t even seen the best of him yet. Wood shot 38.6-percent from 3-point range last season, but so far has only hit 25-percent of his threes.

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Even against the Lakers on Sunday, Wood only went 1-5 from beyond the arc and still, LeBron was left in awe. The Rockets and the Lakers square off again tonight and if Wood can regain his stroke from distance LeBron might tell Marc Gasol to do more than just hold Christian Wood back.

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