2022-23 Season Summary:
In his rookie NBA campaign, Max Christie split his time between the G-League with the South Bay Lakers and the main squad, acquitting himself well in both environments. In 13 appearances for South Bay, Christie averaged 14.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 29 minutes a night. And while he did not get as many minutes with the big club, Christie made 41 appearances -- including three starts -- and flashed good ability as a role player capable of knocking down open shots, defending multiple positions on the wing, and rebounding well from the guard position. Christie's best month of the season came in January where he made two of his three starts and shot 51.1% from the field overall and 44.4% from behind the arc while playing just over 17 minutes a night.
By The Numbers:
41.9%: Percentage Christie shot on the 62 three-pointers he attempted this regular season. That number jumped to 47.8% on shots the NBA considers "open" (defender 4-6 feet away) and was an even 40.0% on catch-and-shoot opportunities.
40.0%: Percentage of shots Christie converted within five feet of the rim. In contrast to the success rate on his outside shot, Christie was not as good when finishing amongst the trees inside.
12.6%: Percentage of defensive rebounds Christie grabbed when he was on the floor. While this isn't one of the highest numbers you can find for a guard, Christie showed strong rebounding instincts in his rookie season, attacking the glass with force and strong fundamentals to elevate high and secure the ball with two-hands.
Moving Forward:
As one of the youngest players in the NBA this past season -- he didn't turn 20 until February -- Christie's rookie season was one of true developmental growth for him as he spent most of the year working on the fundamentals of his game, getting his body more NBA ready, and absorbing as much information as he could from veterans like LeBron James and Anthony Davis throughout the season. Heading into the offseason, Christie can use what he's learned to springboard him into a summer where he can refine his craft, put those practice reps to work in games during summer league, and then use those experiences to prepare to compete for a rotation spot when training camp begins. At 6'6" and nearly 200 pounds -- while still getting stronger and adding muscle as he grows into his frame -- Christie offers strong positional size and will look to make a leap in his 2nd season where he can potentially contribute as an even more polished 3-and-D player who can complement the team's higher usage players with his shot making and defensive competitiveness.