Plenty of Los Angeles Lakers fans are upset that 21-year-old wing Max Christie didn’t get more playing time this past season. He played just 14.1 minutes a game after getting 12.5 minutes per game as a rookie, and the lack of an increase in his playing time was reportedly a reason Darvin Ham was fired as head coach.
While Christie didn’t play in this year’s summer league, he was there as his brother Cam was participating with the Los Angeles Clippers’ squad.
Max Christie said during a recent episode of “Buha’s Block” with The Athletic’s Jovan Buha that while in Las Vegas, he worked out with new head coach JJ Redick by taking part in drills.
“Both of us are really on the same schedule, if you will, in terms of how I want to be used and how he wants to use me within the offense, within the rotation,” said Christie. “We really both got a taste of it in Vegas when we were both there and I was working out a lot. He was always present. He was always kind of running the drills and putting me in situations that he wants me to be in during the season, too.”
Max Christie, a second-round draft pick two years ago, is thought to have serious potential as a 3-and-D player. He has shot 37.8% from 3-point range in his two NBA seasons, and he gives 100% on the defensive end.
With the departure of Taurean Prince and Spencer Dinwiddie, perhaps there is now a wide window for the Michigan State University product to get much more playing time this coming season.