When the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić to Los Angeles and brought Anthony Davis to Dallas went down, the NBA world was shaken to its core. It was the kind of deal that instantly rewrites the trajectory of multiple franchises.
Understandably, most of the attention zeroed in on the two headliners. Dončić, the face of the Mavericks, gone.
Davis, a former All-NBA big with injury baggage, in. But buried in the chaos of that six-player, three-team deal was a name few in Dallas knew much about: Max Christie.
At the time, Christie was viewed as a throw-in - a young guard with limited NBA reps, more of a developmental project than a foundational piece. Fast forward nearly a year, and that narrative has shifted dramatically.
While Davis has struggled to stay on the floor, Christie has quietly - and now not-so-quietly - carved out a critical role in Dallas. He’s not just playing; he’s thriving.
And for a Mavericks team trying to build a sustainable future, Christie’s emergence couldn’t have come at a better time.
A Sharpshooter in a Desert of Spacing
Let’s start with the obvious: Christie’s shooting has been elite. On a Mavericks roster sorely lacking consistent perimeter threats, Christie has stepped in and filled that void with remarkable efficiency. He’s drilling 45.9% of his threes on 5.5 attempts per game - that’s sixth-best in the entire league and first among players with at least 200 attempts.
This isn’t a case of a guy getting hot for a week or two. Christie’s been a consistent weapon from deep, particularly as a spot-up shooter, where he’s hitting nearly 48% of his 172 attempts (per Synergy Sports).
He’s even been effective off the dribble, converting 38.3% of his 47 pull-up threes - a crucial skill for keeping defenses honest. Coach Jason Kidd has taken notice, encouraging Christie to let it fly even more often.
That kind of trust from the top is telling. You don’t ask a 22-year-old to shoot more unless you believe he’s a long-term piece.
Growth Beyond the Arc
But what’s really exciting about Christie’s development is how his game has expanded beyond just catch-and-shoot opportunities. Defenses are adjusting - they’re closing out harder, forcing him to put the ball on the floor. And Christie has responded like a player who belongs.
He’s become increasingly comfortable attacking closeouts, using one or two dribbles to get into his midrange game. And it’s working - he’s shooting 52% on pull-up twos, a strong mark that suggests touch and poise in traffic. When he’s not pulling up, he’s getting all the way to the rim, showing off his athleticism and willingness to absorb contact.
And then there’s his pick-and-roll work - an area where most young guards struggle. Not Christie.
Among all NBA players with at least 50 possessions as the ball handler in pick-and-roll, he leads the league in both points per possession (1.23) and effective field goal percentage (65.1%), per NBA.com. Yes, the sample size is small - just 53 possessions - but the efficiency is eye-popping.
Since December 1, he’s taken it up another notch, averaging 1.50 PPP on 75% eFG in those situations (per Synergy). That’s not just good - that’s elite-level shot creation, even if it’s coming in limited doses.
A Blur in Transition
Where Christie truly shines, though, is in the open floor. He’s been a force in transition, ranking first in points per possession (1.52) and second in eFG% (78.5%) among players with at least 80 transition possessions.
He’s sprinting the lanes, finishing with authority, and making smart decisions on the move. His chemistry with Cooper Flagg on the break has been one of the more exciting developments for this young Mavs team - they’re fast, fluid, and fearless.
It’s a big reason why Dallas ranks second in the NBA in fastbreak points per game.
Still Room to Grow
Despite all the progress, there’s still untapped potential in Christie’s game - especially in the halfcourt. He’s been highly efficient when cutting off the ball (10-for-13 from the field, per Synergy), and it wouldn’t hurt to see Kidd design more actions to get him moving without the ball.
He’s also shown promise as a screener in pick-and-rolls, posting 1.39 PPP in a small sample. That versatility - being able to operate both as the handler and the screener - adds another layer to his offensive utility.
There are areas that still need polish. His floater game is a work in progress, and he’s struggled in the paint outside the restricted area (just 36.7% shooting).
Adding strength to finish through contact and developing a reliable in-between shot will be key next steps. His playmaking isn’t a major strength yet, but given his shooting gravity, he doesn’t need to be a primary creator to be effective.
Holding His Own on Defense
Defensively, Christie isn’t a lockdown stopper, but he’s holding his own. He’s got solid size, a plus wingspan, and the athleticism to stay with most guards.
His screen navigation has improved, and he plays with a high motor. While the Mavericks have been slightly better defensively with him off the floor, that stat needs context - injuries and rotational chaos have skewed a lot of lineup data this season.
What matters more is that Christie has the physical tools and the basketball IQ to be a reliable defender. He may never lead the league in steals or blocks, but he’s rarely out of position and competes on every possession.
A Building Block for the Future
As Dallas continues to build around 19-year-old phenom Cooper Flagg, players like Christie become essential. He’s 22, cost-controlled, and improving rapidly.
A 6’5” guard who can shoot the lights out, run in transition, defend multiple positions, and create in spurts? That’s exactly the kind of complementary piece you want next to a franchise cornerstone.
Max Christie may never be an All-Star, and that’s okay. What he’s showing is that he can be a high-level role player - a starter who impacts winning on both ends.
In today’s NBA, that’s gold. The Mavericks need more players like him, and if he keeps trending upward, they’ve found a gem in what once looked like a throwaway piece of a controversial trade.
Turns out, Max Christie wasn’t just a throw-in. He might just be a cornerstone.