Lakers News: Max Christie Reflects On Temporary Starting Role For LA
Your Los Angeles Lakers are in a good spot through 17 games. They sit at 10-7 as of Monday, November 27th, and are only 2.5 games behind the Western Conference's top-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves (12-4).
The Lakers are fortunate to be where they're at, considering the amount of injuries the purple and gold have already sustained in the first month of the season. With those injuries taking place, it's caused others to step up in a big way, and one Laker guard who has stepped up in a big way thus far is second-year guard Max Christie.
Christie has been able to shine these past two games, and teammate LeBron James isn't letting his work go unnoticed.
“When you’re trusted by your coaches, that helps,” LeBron James said. “So knowing that he’s going to get his number called, he’s been ready. And he stepped up. And he was big-time. One of the tough matchups in this league is Donovan Mitchell, obviously, his ability to score on all three levels – from the 3 line, from the midrange, get into the paint – he did a good job of just trying to keep his body on him, make him take tough shots and not foul him.”
The 20-year-old is doing it on both sides of the ball, but his defense has been the shining spot thus far. In their win on Saturday, Christie held Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to 1-of-7 shooting as his overall defense was crucial for LA to snag the win.
His defense was among the reasons why Laker fans were excited to see Max play an even more significant role this season than last. At the start of the 2023-2024 season, it seemed like Christie's role would remain relatively unchanged from 2022-23 (i.e. he'd be a "break glass in case of emergency" non-rotation guy), but with the injuries piling up, Christie has shown he belongs in the rotation with or without injuries.
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham and the coaching staff will have much to consider if Max continues his stellar play. However, these are great problems to have, and we'll see if he can continue to help LA on both sides of the ball.
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