Lakers Reserve Uses Tournament Winnings to Buy Mom a House

Professional athletes often dream of taking care of their parents and loved ones. Los Angeles Laker forward Christian Wood was able to just that recently, fulfilling a promise he made to his mother Jeanette Stewart a decade ago.

As a teenager, Wood told his mother that he would buy her a house one day. His love for his mom was so profound that he made a promise without even knowing how it would be done. Stewart has also been in her son's corner, even through a tough outcome in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Wood went undrafted and was absolutely gutted. Stewart comforted her son at a nearby casino and assured him that his career was far from over. According to USA Today Sports, Stewart said, "You’re not a failure. That doesn’t make you a failure because you went on undrafted."

The UNLV product ended up signing with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2015 and played 17 games before getting waived. Since then, Wood has carved out a nice role in the league, showcasing his smooth perimeter shot and calm rebounding. The 28-year-old's career averages are 14.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

In September 2023, Wood signed a two-year, $5.7 million dollar deal with the Lakers. Los Angeles rolled through the NBA In-Season Tournament to win the first-ever title. They knocked off the Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans, and the Indiana Pacers to secure the championship.

A $500K bonus was given to each member of the winning team. Wood used this extra money to secure his mother the home he always promised. This is a moment that neither Wood nor Stewart will ever forget.