How Max Christie Earned His Starting Role

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Wright | Last updated Dec 18, 2024 1:49 PM ET

Max Christie's path to the Lakers' starting lineup hasn't been linear. After signing a four-year, $32 million deal in the offseason, the 21-year-old wing struggled early and found himself relegated to the bench. But head coach JJ Redick's decision to start him against Memphis may have unlocked something special.

"It feels good and it's pretty cool just to see the progression and the growth in terms of just me over the last three years," Christie said after effectively defending Ja Morant in the Lakers' 116-110 win. "I think I've slowly gotten a little better, being put in more intense situations."

Christie credits his development to learning from failures, particularly referencing a late-game mistake against Oklahoma City that he turned into a learning experience. A week later, he delivered a crucial block on Trae Young in Atlanta.

"It's trial by fire, right?" Christie explained. "You get thrown in the fire, you make a mistake, you learn from it. You gotta fail before you succeed."

Redick's decision to start Christie over Gabe Vincent wasn't just about Sunday's matchup. The coach outlined his vision for the perfect fifth starter alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.

"Ideally we want to have that fifth guy be a complementary piece," Redick said. "That complementary piece most likely looks like a point of attack defender. A guy that doesn't need the ball in his hands, he's gonna play hard, he's gonna pick up full court, can shoot 3s."

Christie's defensive performance against Morant - along with the team's overall execution - left Redick impressed. "Max Christie in particular on-ball was fantastic tonight," he noted, praising the team's "gameplan discipline."

As one of the few true 3-and-D wings on the roster, Christie's development could be crucial for the Lakers' success. If Sunday's performance is any indication, Redick may have found his permanent fifth starter.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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