It’s hard to believe that Max Christie is already four years into his NBA career and has been on his second team during that time.
Christie was a rare one-and-done under Tom Izzo, the first since Jaren Jackson Jr. a few years before him, and he has since been followed by Jase Richardson. It’s not common to see Izzo send players to the league after just one season, but it’s becoming less surprising. The Hall of Fame coach knows how to develop pros.
The former five-star guard started all 35 games in his first season at Michigan State, averaging 9.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in over 30 minutes per game, which wasn’t great, but he struggled to find a consistent jumper. He shot just 38 percent from the floor and 32 percent from deep.
This modest first season was enough for him to take the plunge, in his eyes, by being drafted 35th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.
The former Spartan guard played 2.5 seasons with the Lakers before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the blockbuster deal involving Luka Doncic.
Dallas is where it is today.
Max Christie carves out a nice role in the NBA
As of December 29, Max had started 22 games for the Mavericks and was averaging 28.4 minutes per game, down slightly from his 30.4 a year ago with Dallas. However, he is averaging a career-high 11.4 points, along with 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
Christie is also having the best shooting season of his young NBA career, converting about 47 percent of his field goals and over 45 percent of his three shots. He’s also almost automatic from the free throw line, shooting over 83 percent.
The Mavericks are only 12-21 and in fourth place in the Southwest Division, but Christie is playing the best basketball of his professional career.
After a very good month of November where he averaged 12.5 points per game, he came back to earth a little in December, with only 9.3 points on average.
Christie is still young at 22, so her future is incredibly bright.
Izzo must be proud – even though he probably wishes he had another year of Max.
