Max Christie is no longer a rookie. He added about 15 pounds of muscle mass this offseason and is looking forward to his second season with the Lakers..
A name you’ve probably heard a lot this summer: Max Christie.
The Michigan State Spartan, who emerged in the second round of last year’s NBA draft, was a marvel in his second year of Summer League play.
In three games, Christie averaged 19.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists in Las Vegas. And according to RealGM, the 20-year-old had a player efficiency rating of 22.9. It’s right up there with Victor Wembanyama (22.9 PER) and Scoot Henderson (23.3 PER), picks one and three in this year’s draft class.
When asked if he could go to the grocery store without being detected, Christie replied, “Nahhhh,” laughing: “These days I can’t, but that’s OK.” It’s actually pretty cool.
Christie is only 20 years old. He’s a son and older brother who were excited about their family’s trip to Michigan to cap off the summer, a place so coveted that the location was not disclosed. His plan was to use time with family and friends to recalibrate before the season. His plan was to give his mind a break; he planned to only be 20 years old before becoming a real pro. Because Christie is also a Los Angeles Laker, a Laker who is no longer a rookie and who has prepared hard for his opportunity on the big stage.
Last year, Christie spent time with the Lakers and South Bay Lakers. The former rookie learned valuable lessons from every game on the hardwood. He used his experiences with the Lakers to frequently educate some SBL guys. Those experiences include playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, a starting spot in a regular season game in Denver, and appearances in every round of Los Angeles’ playoffs.
On the other hand, he talked about how the South Bay prepared and inspired him in multiple ways. “Basketball-wise, I was able to assert myself and leadership-wise, I was also able to take a step forward,” the shooting guard explained.
Christie approached a black folding chair waiting for him on the courtside of the practice facility, the court where he practices with the Lakers and where he has played in front of his hometown crowd with South Bay. He had just finished a workout and a lift, and was wearing basketball shorts with a Lakers t-shirt that he was looking to fill out a little more than a few months ago in June. Sitting down, he took off his sneakers and stretched his legs. He exuded a nonchalant energy and gave no sense of nervousness, but rarely looked away from the court as he thoughtfully answered questions.
There was a brief laugh at the mention of him being talked about at Summer League, but he quickly returned to his poker face.
“What got me into Summer League was just work,” Christie said. “That’s what it comes down to, the work. Mentally, I was very determined to show what I could do. I think I said that during my exit interview as well, even looking back on it, you could tell I was hungry and ready to prove myself. I think subconsciously the mental side was there, and physically I did so much work, multiple workouts a day and I was just trying to do everything I could to maximize my potential and maximize my opportunities “, he said, always looking to the future.
His answers didn’t seem like they were coming from a 20 year old. They were thoughtful and comprehensive, and seemed authentic and well-prepared. did I will have a lot of practice this summer answering the questions. With each passing moment, Christie seemed to be trying to maintain a seriousness that served as her outermost shell.
Entering the NBA at age 19, it was Christie’s defensive abilities that were most notable. But in short order, he has established himself as a true three-and-D wing, unafraid to use his body to get to the rim. The subject of its development prompted a detailed three-part response that reduced its transformation to a science. He watched him carefully, as he organized his thoughts, the curls on his head hanging just above his dark brown eyes.
“First and foremost, my ability to observe,” Christie explained as the primary reason for his progress. “I think last year was a big year for me in terms of learning as much as I could. I think coming in, I knew that I probably wouldn’t get as much playing time, that it wasn’t going to be as big of an opportunity, so all I really wanted to do was, with the team that we had, with the vets that we had, with the experience that we had, was observing how they go during their normal training days and obviously asking them a lot of questions as well.
“The second would be the ability to apply it to my own life,” Christie continued, “So watching these guys, observing how they do their thing, and then finding ways – unique ways to apply what they do to my own life.” life and how I can take advantage of it to be able to improve and grow.
And the last reason Christie explained: “My third would be my patience. Like any basketball player, especially when I was young, you know, coming to a team like this, I wanted the opportunity to play, play, play,… I was able to having a little bit early in the year and after the trade deadline, I just didn’t get as much playing time due to the fact that we had guys that were older and more experienced than me. I had to practice my patience a lot. It was a little difficult for me, but I had to practice that patience and continue to find ways to improve even if I wasn’t necessarily playing.
Its formula seems quite simple once distilled: observation, application and patience. But it is his dedication to these disciplines that shows the true strength of his mindset and commitment to the game. The type of mindset needed to carry out this reflection is not that of many young adults, especially those not even of legal drinking age; Christie is different.
Last season, the number 10 entered the arena around 2:00 p.m. each match day – reporting did not take place until 7:30 p.m. for most competitions. This extremely early arrival is akin to another Laker’s pregame routine.
“That’s definitely why I’m here early,” Christie said.
“LeBron is someone I’ve watched and watched and asked him a lot of questions. I think I would be stupid and doing myself a disservice if I didn’t ask him as many questions as possible and copy literally everything he does. This might sound cheesy, but I really look at everything he does and try to do the exact same thing. Obviously it’s a little different, he’s in year 21 and I’m in year 2 now.
But Christie points out that one of the most important things he learned from talking with LBJ is how to separate the player from the person; both sides exist and both sides are important. There’s being a member of a Western Conference Finals team, and then the next day, becoming an older brother and going home for your younger brother’s high school graduation. Christie is both of those people.
The young Laker knows who he is and knows who he wants to become.
“Last weekend I went back to Michigan State for the first time, and it was cool to go back and be a kid,” Christie said. “Everyone kind of recognizes me now: ‘You talked about it during your first year of college, that was a year and a half, two years ago, about how you wanted to be at this point and now you are at this stage. I think going back helped me remember the work I did and how it led me to this incredible place.
This amazing place is full of opportunities if you have the courage to grab what you want. Christie showed everyone what he was doing.
“Really for me,” the 20-year-old said, “it’s just about going out there and playing as hard as I can and controlling what I can control. And ultimately trusting to the process and knowing that everything happens for a reason. I worked a lot during the summer and I worked a lot during the season. I think that showed in Summer League. I’m working at this point of my life for a long, long time. All I have to do is do my thing and everything will show. There’s no pressure for me to do this or that because I’m doing the work .
