Do the Dallas Mavericks have a genuine candidate for this season’s Sixth Man of the Year?
There are more than a few people asking that question after the start of the season.
That’s because the team’s newcomer, Christian Wood, is living up to his hype down in Dallas.
Christian Wood as a sixth man:
24.3 PPG
8.7 RPG
62.2 FG%
61.5 3P%No Maverick has ever averaged 20 PPG off the bench in a season. pic.twitter.com/8enVvo5Utp
— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 26, 2022
So far, Wood is averaging 24.3 points and 8.7 rebounds on a 62.2% field goal percentage, and a 61.5% three-point percentage.
As StatMuse points out, no Maverick has ever had 20 points per game off the bench in a season.
Is Wood going to help the Mavs stay competitive all season long?
And will he remain a bench player even with all the success he’s found?
Wood’s Season So Far
Dallas hasn’t had a perfect start to 2022-23 and they currently have a 1-2 record.
However, no one can deny that Wood has been legitimately solid in every game he’s played in.
His stat line is above his career average of 14.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.
He is obviously doing better work in Dallas than he was back in Houston.
When he was first signed to the Mavs, some people were shocked when head coach Jason Kidd said that Wood was headed to the bench and wouldn’t be a starter.
But he has been doing tremendous work as a bench player.
However, now some people are questioning Kidd again and wondering if Wood starting would improve the team’s 1-2 record.
Why not give him a starting spot since he’s done so well?
But would that spread the roster too thin and leave the bench vulnerable and weak?
These are things that Kidd and his coaching staff will debate in the months ahead if Wood continues to clean up on the court.
NEXT: 3 Reasons To Watch The Dallas Mavericks This Season