Last Updated on August 7, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Patience defines much of Max Christie’s game, whether he’s staying attached through multiple screens, making the extra pass instead of forcing a shot, or waiting for the right moment to attack a closeout. An American shooting guard and small forward in the NBA, Christie has carved out his role through disciplined perimeter defense, composed off-ball movement, improving catch-and-shoot range, and a team-first approach that continues to expand his offensive responsibilities.

Here’s a detailed profile of basketballer Max Christie:

Player Profile

Personal Information:

  • Full Name: Cormac Karl “Max” Christie Jr.
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born February 10, 2003
  • Hometown: Arlington Heights, Illinois
  • Height: 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm)
  • Weight: 190 pounds (86 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 6 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)

Basketball Career:

  • High School: Rolling Meadows High School, Rolling Meadows, Illinois
    • During his high school career, Christie was a standout player, earning recognition as a five-star recruit and one of the top shooting guards in the 2021 class.
  • College: Michigan State University (2021–2022)
    • As a freshman, he averaged 9.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
  • NBA Draft: Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2nd round (35th overall pick) of the 2022 NBA Draft.
  • Teams Played For:
    • Los Angeles Lakers (2022–2025)
    • South Bay Lakers (2022–2023)
    • Dallas Mavericks (2025–present)
  • Jersey Number: 12
  • Position: Shooting Guard

Career Highlights:

  • NBA Cup Champion: 2023
  • Big Ten All-Freshman Team: 2022

Personal Life:

  • Parents:
    • Mother: Katrina (née Hannaford) Christie, who played college basketball at Northwestern University, scoring over 1,000 points, and is a psychologist.
    • Father: Max Sr., who played college basketball at Parkland College and the University of Wisconsin–Superior before becoming an aircraft pilot.
  • Siblings:
    • Younger Brother: Cam Christie, who played collegiate basketball at the University of Minnesota and was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 46th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Max Christie’s player archetype is that of a 3-and-D wing with secondary shot-creation upside, a long, fluid guard-forward type who fits best as a complementary perimeter piece on both ends. Defensively, he projects as a switchable wing defender who uses his length, mobility, and discipline to stay attached on the perimeter and make plays without needing to dominate the ball. Offensively, his clearest role is as a floor-spacing guard who can attack closeouts, move without the ball, and occasionally create from the mid-range or off a straight-line drive when the defense shifts toward stars around him. Physically, Christie brings good positional size at 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, with a lanky frame and near 6-foot-9 wingspan that helps him play bigger than a typical shooting guard. His play style is built on smooth movement, shooting touch, defensive versatility, and patient secondary offense, giving him the profile of a modern connective wing rather than a high-usage primary scorer. (NBA)

Scouting Report

Max Christie doesn’t chase the game; he lets it come to him, and that’s a harder skill than it looks. The first thing you notice is how composed he stays when possessions become messy. He relocates instinctively around penetration, keeps his feet ready on the perimeter and rarely needs extra dribbles after the catch, which makes him an easy fit next to high-usage creators. When defenders run him off the line, he prefers long, controlled strides into the paint over flashy handle sequences, looking for a pull-up from the foul line or a simple finish instead of forcing difficult shots through traffic. There are flashes of secondary playmaking too. He’ll keep the ball moving with quick swing passes, hit the short-roll big if the weak-side tag arrives early and generally makes the obvious read before the defence can recover. Defensively, that’s where I think his ceiling is particularly interesting. He uses his length well at the point of attack, stays connected over pin-downs, contests without lunging and has the discipline to peel back onto shooters instead of ball-watching when the initial action breaks down. The trade-off is that stronger wings can dislodge him on direct drives, and he isn’t yet the kind of self-creating scorer who can consistently manufacture quality offence against a defence that is already set. This is why his ideal environment is one that values quick decisions and constant ball movement rather than isolation-heavy basketball. Surrounded by creators who collapse the defence, Christie can concentrate on spacing the floor, defending the toughest perimeter assignments and attacking closeouts before the help rotates. To me, there are elements of Mikal Bridges in the way he quietly influences possessions without demanding touches, while his offensive rhythm also carries hints of a young Danny Green, built around timing, spacing and efficient complementary scoring rather than dominating the ball.

Sources:
NBA.com — Max Christie | Guard | Dallas Mavericks
NBA.com — NBA 2022 Draft Prospects | Max Christie
NBADraft.net — Max Christie
Sports Illustrated — Rookie Fit Preview: Max Christie Offers Future Upside for Lakers