The beautiful story of Max Christie continues in 2025. Extended last summer by the Lakers with a generous contract for a player who had not yet managed to explode, the back is taking full advantage of the new starting five proposed for ten games by JJ Redick. Comforted in his new responsibilities as a starter following the departure of D'Angelo Russell to Brooklyn, he gained further ground on Thursday against the Blazers. Los Angeles deprived of Anthony Davis, injured in the ankle, the 21-year-old player took responsibility to fill the void. He finished with an exploded career record, with 28 points spent in Portland, and the victory as a bonus.
Max Christie is establishing himself as more than a lucky charm, or even a simple defensive “role player” in the Lakers starting five. In his “3&D” register, he shows good progress in attack and offers an increasingly credible option to his team. The former Illinois player is averaging 12.1 points at 44.4% from a distance since his integration into the starting five by JJ Redick, but above all 16.4 points on average over his last five games. All with very good percentages like this Thursday with a 5/9 at 3-points.
Covered by LeBron, praised by JJ Redick
« My long shot was working pretty well tonight, and I got to the free throw line a decent number of times » welcomed Max Christie at the microphone of Spectrum Sportsnet. “ When Anthony is absent, we must have players who step up and are present in scoring. LeBron had a very good match, and I took my level up a notch. »
Like James, Max Christie not only compiled the stats, but also showed up when Los Angeles needed it most, in the second quarter (11 of his 28 points) to take the lead on the scoreboard , then keeping its pace with 14 points after returning from the locker room, as in the first period.
« You have to learn how to be a pro, and by that I mean you have to do the same things every night until you become reliable and the coach can't take you off the field. » encouraged JJ Redick. “ And that's what I see in Max's development over the last six to eight weeks. »
« It was my best match of my career, it's something I want to hold on to and try to replicate as much as possible » confirmed Max Christie. “ I have to be as constant as possible. »
A “two-way player” in development
Precious offensively, Max Christie has not forgotten his main task, by limiting Anfernee Simons as best as possible. If the latter finished as the Blazers' top scorer with 23 points, he did not weigh as much as he wanted, finishing with a ratio of assists to lost balls that was just positive (five against four).
« Every night I have the toughest opposition, tonight it was Anfernee Simons, who is their best player » explained Max Christie at a press conference. “ Tomorrow against Atlanta, it will undoubtedly be Trae Young who is their best player. For me, it's just my job, and it gets me in the groove. It also helps the team. The main part of the game where I want to be present is on defense, and I think I did a decent job tonight. »
« He works hard and it pays off for him » LeBron James congratulated him. “ We have coaches who believe in him. We believe in him and he was incredible on both ends of the floor today. »
With or without Anthony Davis, Max Christie balances the starting five of the Lakers, relaunched since his responsibilities: seven victories for three defeats, the second best record in the West over the period. Well helped by their surprise providential man, the Californian franchise regained its place in the Top 6.
| Max Christie | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | To | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | LAL | 41 | 13 | 41.5 | 41.9 | 87.5 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 3.1 |
| 2023-24 | LAL | 67 | 14 | 42.7 | 35.6 | 78.3 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 4.2 |
| 2024-25 | LAL | 32 | 22 | 44.6 | 37.1 | 88.2 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 7.8 |
| Total | 140 | 16 | 43.1 | 37.5 | 84.6 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 4.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
