Max Christie, a guard with the Los Angeles Lakers, had a difficult start to the season but has since established himself, at least temporarily, in the starting lineup. He has improved his skills in response to being added to that starting lineup.
In the last six games he started for the Lakers, he hit 50% from 3-point range and averaged 9.3 points per game. His perimeter defense, which the team has needed for a while, has been probably even more useful than his improved shooting skills.
He has performed admirably in his assignment to protect the other team’s main perimeter scoring threat. He dominated De’Aaron Fox into a 7-of-17 effort one game later after holding Ja Morant to 6-of-21 shooting earlier this month. He contributed to Cade Cunningham only making nine of his 25 shots and committing five turnovers against the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
When the Lakers play the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day, Christie will probably be guarding Stephen Curry for a portion of the game. He discussed the regimen he has developed over the years to get physically ready for games.
The Lakers have viewed Christie as a legitimate 3-and-D prospect, and his recent play on both ends of the court is probably what they expected him to do over the past year or two. If Christie keeps going in this direction, he will significantly reduce their lack of valuable auxiliary players outside of their top three or four players.
