NBA
MC
#00

Max Christie

Guard · Dallas Mavericks · 6-5, 190 lb · Born February 10, 2003 · Arlington Heights, Illinois · Drafted 2022 Round 2, Pick 35 (Los Angeles Lakers)
3-and-D WingIST Champion 2023Ascending
NBADallas MavericksGuards
Compare:vs Williamsvs Flaggvs Gaffordvs IIvs Thompsonvs Marshall
In short

Max Christie is a 6-foot-5 Dallas Mavericks guard, a former Lakers second-round pick and Michigan State one-and-done, who was traded to Dallas in the February 2025 Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis blockbuster and has developed into an ascending 3-and-D starter.

Matchup model · next gameLow confidenceFri, Nov 13
vsDetroit PistonsAggressive hedge & help
Proj. points
12.2
range 9.5–14.9
Line 12.5
47%
to go over
Team win
60%
113–111
Poi 12.2 Lean underReb 3.2 Lean overAss 2 Lean overPRA 17.5 Lean under
Likely on himAusar Thompson· 90 Perimeter DElite stopper
10+ pts77%15+ pts18%

Model lines Christie at 12.2 pts (range 9.5–14.9) vs a 12.5 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (47%).

Biggest edge: venue — home floor — small boost.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Christie
The Christie Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
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Max Christie went from Lakers second-rounder to the centerpiece trade that reshaped the NBA.

A five-star recruit and one-and-done at Michigan State, he was drafted 35th by Los Angeles and built his value on perimeter defense.

He won the inaugural In-Season Tournament with the Lakers before being traded to Dallas in February 2025 alongside Anthony Davis for Luka Dončić.

Given a bigger role in Dallas, his scoring jumped to around 12.3 points a night on 40%-plus from three — the look of an ascending starter.

— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
12.3
2025-26
RPG
3.2
per game
APG
2
per game
FG%
.441
.404 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A projectable 3-and-D guard who arrived in Dallas via one of the most stunning trades in NBA history, Max Christie has grown from a Lakers second-rounder into a rising starter.

Max Christie was born February 10, 2003 in Arlington Heights, Illinois. A five-star recruit and 2021 McDonald's All-American out of Rolling Meadows, he spent one season at Michigan State before entering the 2022 draft.

The Lakers took him 35th overall, and over roughly two-and-a-half seasons he developed into a rotation guard prized for his perimeter defense, winning the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament in 2023.

In February 2025 he was traded to Dallas as part of the blockbuster that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers and Anthony Davis to Dallas. Handed a larger role, he jumped to roughly 12.3 points a night on strong shooting.

Sources: Wikipedia, Basketball-Reference, NBA.com.

BEYOND THE GAME

Off the Court

Christie comes from an athletic, academic family: his mother scored 1,000-plus points at Northwestern and is a psychotherapist, his father played college ball and is an airline pilot, and his younger brother Cam was a 2024 NBA second-round pick out of Minnesota.

He is a fan of Japanese manga and anime, and carries a low-key, low-mistake reputation both on and off the floor.

PERSONALITY

The person

Steady, coachable and defense-first, Christie is a low-maintenance wing whose offensive game is catching up to his role.

Point-of-Attack DWell-regarded on-ball and off-ball perimeter defender.
Reliable StrokeCatch-and-shoot three and .86-plus career free-throw shooter.
Low-EgoHigh-effort, low-usage complementary player earning more responsibility.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
3-and-D Guard
Temperament
Steady
Leadership
58/100
Scoring61
Playmaking51
Rebounding42
Perimeter D74
Rim protection22
Spacing72
Athleticism70
Clutch63
a 3-and-D guard
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

3-and-D Profile

Christie offers positional size, a reliable catch-and-shoot three (high-30s to low-40s), elite free-throw shooting, and well-regarded defense at the point of attack — a coveted role-player archetype.

Rising Usage

His shot volume and self-creation climbed after moving into starting minutes in Dallas, suggesting more offensive upside than his early Lakers role showed.

Frame Question

At a slight ~190 pounds he can be bodied by bigger wings, and he is still proving he can create and finish consistently against set defenses.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-267729.112.33.22.0.441.404

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

DraftNo. 35, 2022 (Lakers)
CollegeMichigan State (one-and-done)
2023In-Season Tournament champ

Hardware

IST
2023 Champion
12.3
PPG 2025-26
3-and-D
Ascending role
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated 2026

An ascending young starter and long-term rotation piece.

Signed to a reported four-year, ~$32M deal that carried over from the Lakers, Christie projects as a durable 3-and-D starter with room to grow as a scorer. He is one of the younger core pieces Dallas gained in the Doncic-Davis trade.

DefenseStrong
ShootingReliable
UpsideRising

Contract

Deal
4 yr / ~$32M Signed July 2024
Bottom line

A rising 3-and-D guard on a team-friendly deal — the kind of young piece a contender wants.

FAQ

Quick answers

How did Max Christie end up on the Mavericks?

He was traded from the Lakers to Dallas in February 2025, in the deal that sent Anthony Davis and Christie to Dallas for Luka Dončić.

Where did Max Christie play college basketball?

One season at Michigan State (2021-22) before entering the 2022 NBA Draft.

Is Max Christie related to another player?

Yes — his younger brother Cam Christie, out of Minnesota, was a 2024 NBA second-round pick.

What is Max Christie's signature skill?

He's a 3-and-D wing — dependable outside shooting and well-regarded perimeter defense, with a rising scoring role in Dallas.