Max Christie Bio
Cormac Karl “Max” Christie Jr., born on February 10, 2003, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds, the 22-year-old guard stands out for his smooth shooting stroke, mature defensive reads, and steady improvement in his third professional season. After a single year at Michigan State, Christie was selected 35th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2022 NBA Draft and has since built a reputation as a reliable role player with championship experience.
Christie first drew national attention as a consensus five-star recruit out of Rolling Meadows High School. He earned All-American honors before spending one season with the Spartans, where he was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Across his NBA career, he has played for the Lakers, their G League affiliate the South Bay Lakers, and the Mavericks, winning the NBA Cup as a rookie in 2023.
Early Life and Background
Cormac Karl Christie Jr. was born on February 10, 2003, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and grew up in a household steeped in basketball tradition. His mother, Katrina Christie (née Hannaford), played college basketball at Northwestern, where she scored more than 1,000 points and later became a psychotherapist. His father, Max Christie Sr., played college basketball at Parkland College and the University of Wisconsin–Superior before building a career as an aircraft pilot.
The family home offered the younger Christie constant access to the game. He began playing organized basketball at a young age and quickly developed into a high school star, learning the habits of a professional through daily conversations with his parents. He also grew up alongside his younger brother, Cameron Christie, who followed a similar path into Division I basketball and was later drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024.
Path to Basketball
Christie attended Rolling Meadows High School in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, where he starred on the varsity team alongside Cameron. As a freshman he averaged 20 points, nine rebounds, and four assists per game, then lifted his averages to 25.5 points and 10 rebounds as a sophomore and posted a 51-point game against Elk Grove High School. In his junior year he earned Pioneer Press Player of the Year honors after averaging 25 points and 11 rebounds, and he closed his senior season with 24 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.1 steals per game while leading Rolling Meadows to a 15-0 record.
His senior year brought statewide recognition, including Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year, News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year, and Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, as well as selections to the McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit. On July 7, 2020, he committed to Michigan State over offers from Duke, Villanova, and Ohio State. He also represented the United States at the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Brazil, helping his country win a gold medal while averaging 9.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Max Christie Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
At Michigan State, Christie stepped into the rotation immediately and delivered a season-high 21 points in a 79-67 win over Nebraska on January 5, 2022. As a freshman he averaged 9.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, and he was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. On April 1, 2022, he declared for the 2022 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility, and on May 16 he announced that he would remain in the draft and hire an agent.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Christie in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft with the 35th overall pick. He joined the Lakers’ 2022 NBA Summer League roster and scored five points with nine rebounds in his debut, a 100-66 California Classic win over the Miami Heat. On July 8, 2022, he signed his rookie scale contract with Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Lakers Breakthrough (2022–2024)
During his rookie season, Christie posted a season-high 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting against the Denver Nuggets on January 10, 2023. He split time between the Lakers and the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League in March 2023, and he finished the year averaging 3.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game while shooting 41.5 percent on two-pointers and 41.9 percent from three-point range.
His minutes grew in 2023-24, when he tied his career high with 14 points twice, first against the Miami Heat on January 3, 2024, and then against the Phoenix Suns eight days later. On December 9, 2023, Christie and the Lakers won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, making him an NBA Cup champion before his 21st birthday.
Dallas Mavericks Era (2025–Present)
After re-signing with the Lakers on a four-year, $32 million deal on July 2, 2024, Christie continued to expand his game under first-year head coach JJ Redick. He opened the season slowly from beyond the arc, but after moving into the starting lineup he shot better than 45 percent from three-point range over an eight-game stretch while averaging 10.6 points per game. He raised his career high in points three times in the first two and a half months of the season, finishing with 28 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 2, 2025, and earning public praise for his defense from LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, and Coach Redick.
On February 2, 2025, Christie was traded alongside Anthony Davis and a 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris. With Dallas, he averaged 11.2 points per game while shooting 36.4 percent from three-point range in 30 minutes a night, and he produced a 23-point high in his first months as a Maverick.
Driving Style and Strengths
Christie is regarded as a smooth, 6-foot-5 shooting guard whose strengths lie in perimeter shooting, perimeter defense, and basketball IQ. He is praised for his three-point stroke, his ability to guard multiple positions, and his willingness to take on tough defensive assignments, an approach that earned the respect of veteran teammates such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis during his Lakers tenure.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include his selection 35th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, his 2023 NBA Cup championship with the Lakers, and his 28-point career high set on January 2, 2025. His midseason trade to Dallas alongside Anthony Davis placed him on a Mavericks roster in the middle of a playoff race and accelerated his development as a featured contributor.
Max Christie Career Wins
Max Christie’s most prominent team win came on December 9, 2023, when he helped the Los Angeles Lakers capture the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. He also earned a gold medal with the United States at the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Brazil and won numerous individual awards during his time at Rolling Meadows High School, including McDonald’s All-American honors in 2021.
NBA Highlights
Christie’s most memorable NBA moment was the Lakers’ NBA Cup title in December 2023, when he appeared as a rotation player during his rookie season. He set his career high with 28 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 2, 2025, and his 23-point performance with the Mavericks showed he can carry scoring duties in a new role. He averaged 8.5 points per game for the Lakers in 2024-25 before boosting that mark to 11.2 points per game with Dallas after the trade.
Other Wins & Performances
Christie won gold with Team USA at the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Brazil and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after his lone season at Michigan State. He was also a McDonald’s All-American, a Jordan Brand Classic participant, and a Nike Hoop Summit selection in 2021.
Max Christie Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Christie comes from a basketball family. His mother, Katrina, scored more than 1,000 points during her college career at Northwestern and later became a psychotherapist, while his father, Max Sr., played college basketball at Parkland College and Wisconsin–Superior before becoming an aircraft pilot. His younger brother, Cam Christie, played college basketball at Minnesota and was selected 46th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Personal Life
Off the court, Max Christie is a fan of Japanese manga and anime. He is the son of Max Sr. and Katrina Christie and the older brother of Cam Christie, with both brothers now playing in the NBA after developing their games together at Rolling Meadows High School.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign has been the most eventful of Max Christie’s career. He opened the year with the Lakers and elevated his game after becoming a starter, shooting over 45 percent from three-point range during an eight-game stretch and averaging 10.6 points per game. Across 2024-25 with Los Angeles, he averaged 8.5 points per game in 25 minutes while shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc, and he set a new career high with 28 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 2, 2025.
On February 2, 2025, the trade that sent him to the Dallas Mavericks alongside Anthony Davis changed his situation overnight. With Dallas, Christie averaged 11.2 points per game while shooting 36.4 percent from three-point range in 30 minutes a night, and he produced a 23-point high while helping the Mavericks compete in the Western Conference playoff race.
Heading into the rest of 2025, Christie is positioned for a larger offensive role in Dallas and is signed through the 2028-29 season on a four-year, $32 million deal that began in 2025. His blend of perimeter shooting, defense, and playoff experience makes him a key piece of the Mavericks’ long-term plans as the team builds around its new core.