A year ago during the NBA Summer League, Max Christie, a 2022 second-round draft pick out of Michigan State University, looked like a total project player.
He had potential on the defensive end, where he showed good effort, but his outside shooting was wretched, and many thought it would take him a few years to develop.
But during spot duty with the Los Angeles Lakers this past season, the 6-foot-5 guard shot surprisingly well from 3-point range, and in this year’s summer league, he has looked like a different man.
In three NBA Summer League games this year, he has averaged 19.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game while shooting 45.7 percent overall, 50.0 percent from 3-point land and a remarkable 100 percent from the free throw line.
Christie has been working hard on his game and his body since becoming a Laker, and many in the organization have been impressed with his dedication and attitude.
Cole Swider
Swider, an undrafted 6-foot-9 forward who is entering his second pro season, has shown some potential himself. He has shot 38.7 percent from 3-point range on 7.8 attempts a game, and he could have the ability to help the big league Lakers in that area.
But Swider has seen how much of a workaholic the 20-year-old Christie has been.
Via The Athletic:
“He meditates. He breathes. … He’s in the cold tub every day up to his chest. No 20-year-old is doing that,” said Swider. “So he does everything it takes to be successful — almost too much sometimes. He wants to get in the gym too much. I’m like, ‘Max, you gotta chill out, bro. You got it.’”
JD DuBois
DuBois is a Lakers assistant coach under head coach Darvin Ham, and he was selected to coach their summer league entry this year.
That role has allowed him to very closely monitor Christie’s growth, not just in terms of his offense, but also in other facets of his game.
DuBois feels those other facets of the game will help Christie carve out a permanent role in the big leagues.
Via The Athletic:
“I think first and foremost, his defense,” DuBois said. “Just his versatility. Being able to guard multiple positions. And then his ability to attack off of closeouts. And I believe his rebounding will translate as well. We don’t want to put a ceiling on him, but we just know we have to keep having incremental growth with him on both ends of the floor and just let the season dictate where we’ll fit him in.”
Christie has reportedly been challenged to be the best defensive player on the court, and he has responded by averaging 2.3 blocked shots a game in this year’s summer league.
In addition, he has played on the ball a lot, and he has shown poise and comfortability bringing the ball up, initiating L.A.’s set offense and getting his own shot off the dribble.
Darvin Ham
The scene seems to be set for Christie to crack Ham’s rotation this fall.
The Lakers still need better 3-point shooting, and no NBA team can have too many two-way wings, especially wings that are young and energetic.
Ham said on the “#thisleague UNCUT” podcast that he is excited about several summer league players, but it seems he’s most excited about Christie.
Via Sports Illustrated:
“It’s been beautiful to watch. And one of our young kids, we’re really, really excited about, Max Christie going into his second year in the league. I told him he needs to step up and show his leadership abilities, and he’s done that along with Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis, Colin Castleton, D’Moi Hodge—we got Cole Swider…We have some really good players under our umbrella that people are getting a chance to see, and they’re playing the right way.”
Rob Pelinka
The Lakers’ general manager saw enough in Christie to make him the No. 35 pick in last year’s draft. The team acquired that pick just hours prior to the draft in a trade with the Orlando Magic.
Pelinka has observed how Christie has worked on his body, and he is clearly impressed.
Via The Athletic:
“Max has been incredibly locked in — mostly in the weight room with his body,” Pelinka said. “And I think you can see he’s added 10 pounds of muscle where he now when he gets by a shoulder by a guy, he’s a problem. And defensively he’s busting through screens and I think has a chance to be an elite defender. … I think Max is going to be he’s going to be a force in training camp in terms of fighting for minutes in Darvin’s rotation.”
Christie weighed about 190 pounds on draft day in 2022, but he is reportedly over 200 pounds now. That added bulk will help with his stamina and ability to withstand the rigors of a long NBA season, not to mention his production on both ends of the floor.
The hope is that he will be the 2023-24 version of Austin Reaves for the Purple and Gold.
