Undrafted Wood plays with chip on shoulder

NEW YORK – Christian Wood tried to diplomatic.

The 76ers undrafted rookie free agent said it was nice to play in Madison Square Garden. Then Wood added that he would have preferred to win Monday's preseason game instead of losing 94-88 to the New York Knicks.

But the 6-foot-11, 220-pound power forward smiled when asked about going undrafted in June out of UNLV despite being projected as late first-round pick.

"I have a huge chip on my shoulder for sure," said Wood, who finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 19 minutes, 55 seconds off the bench. "I have to go out every game and prove something. I wake up every day like I'm on a mission.  I know that I have to prove something. I have to make the team."

That's why the California native always hustles for loose balls and rebounds and claps for teammates.

"I trying to do everything so I can make the team," Wood said.

He went undrafted after having poor showings during pre-draft workouts with NBA teams.  It didn't help that Wood had 14.9 percent body fat during the NBA Draft Combine in May.

But the Sixers have been impressed with him since the start of training camp.  His play on Monday also should go a long way to prove he deserves to be on the 15-man roster this season.

"I'm a versatile player," Wood said. "I am trying to show I can shoot the three and I can take bigs off the dribble. If they put a smaller guy on me in the post, I can score on him."

Follow Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on instagram at PompeyOnSixers