The Lakers put up a strong performance with a 114-106 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. While LeBron James delivered an impressive 38-point effort, it was Max Christie who stood out with a game that turned heads.
During his post-game interaction with reporters via Spectrum SportsNet, Coach JJ Redick commended Christie for the remarkable influence he had on the court. He highlighted Christie’s ability to adapt as the game progressed and mentioned that such opportunities are crucial for the young player’s development. Redick expressed that he expects even better outings in the future, emphasising the importance of challenging Christie early in his career.
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Christie’s performance on the night was a personal best, and Redick was quick to recognise the strides he has made in recent weeks. The guard ended the game with a career-high 28 points, while also contributing three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in what was easily his most complete display this season.
Despite the coach expressing some concern about how Christie began the game, he also acknowledged the improvement in his rhythm and decision-making as the contest progressed. Since being drafted by the Lakers in 2022, Christie has steadily grown into a more prominent role, with this current campaign shaping up to be his breakout year.
With averages of 7.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per outing, Christie has already surpassed his statistics from past seasons. Redick’s confidence in the young player is visible in the increased minutes he is receiving, showing a clear intention to allow Christie more room to impact games.
Now 21 years old, Christie is featuring for around 22.3 minutes per match and has started in 11 of the 32 games played this season. Before Thursday’s contest, he had already begun establishing himself in the rotation, but this latest showing has only strengthened his case. With performances like this, Christie is showing he can be a valuable contributor, and Redick appears ready to keep placing his trust in him.
