After delivering career-best production upon being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in February’s stunning Luka Dončić deal, Max Christie is continuing to make strides in this year’s training camp. According to Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, one key change has allowed the fourth-year wing to reinvent himself, potentially leading to an expanded role.
Despite being considered an afterthought in Dallas’ superstar swap of Dončić for Anthony Davis, Christie turned heads after the trade deadline with his two-way play, particularly his improved shot creation. He scored 15-plus points in his first seven games with the franchise, becoming just the third Maverick ever to accomplish the feat.
The 2022 No. 35 pick’s output and efficiency tailed off later in the season amid his unprecedented workload (30.4 minutes per game). Still, Kidd is impressed by what he’s seen from Christie over his first eight months coaching him.
What Has Stood Out to Jason Kidd About Max Christie’s Development Since Dallas Move?
After Sunday’s practice, Kidd was asked, “What area of [Christie’s] game has specifically grown since he arrived to Dallas?” Instead of pointing to an on-court improvement, the Hall of Famer highlighted the 22-year-old’s mindset shift.
“Confidence,” Kidd said. “We can talk about the ball handling, we can talk about the shooting, but you can see his confidence is at a very high level. So, for us, we gotta keep him in this space because his confidence is extremely high, and again, as much as I can say, he is playing at a very high level for us.”
With star point guard Kyrie Irving (knee) sidelined, the Mavericks are projected to start veterans D’Angelo Russell and Klay Thompson in their backcourt, with 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg on the wing. Regardless, given his versatility, Kidd foresees Christie carving out a sizable rotation spot in the 2025-26 campaign.
“His ability to play both ends, play any position. He’s a wing, but you can see the hard work that he’s put in this summer is a carryover to why he’s having success now,” Kidd explained. “So, for him, we’re gonna need him — he can start, he can come off the bench — he’s one that’s gonna play a lot of minutes for us.”
Christie’s ability to further improve his on-ball skills and outside shooting consistency will likely dictate his playing time. If Thompson continues his downward trajectory, Christie may be able to claim the aging sharpshooter’s starting position as Dallas enters a new era guided by Davis and Flagg.