With training camp for the 2023-24 season just days away, the Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to hit the court for what could be an exciting and very successful season for them. They appear to have a stacked roster, and therefore an 18th NBA championship is a realistic goal for them once it’s all said and done next summer.
To accomplish that goal, a number of players will need to play up to their potential. In particular, the team seems to be counting on Max Christie to take the next step forward in his second pro season and fill in some holes. These three goals will help him become the player he has the potential to be.
Become a great 3-point shooter
Last season as a rookie, Christie unexpectedly got some playing time with the Lakers, and even more unexpectedly, he started to knock down shots with some regularity. In 41 regular season games, he made an impressive 41.9 percent of his 3-point attempts, which was all the more impressive considering he struggled in that department during the 2022 NBA Summer League and in his lone season at Michigan State University.
In this year’s Summer League, Christie was red-hot from downtown, and he also showed some ability to hit shots off the bounce rather than just off the pass. That shot-making ability will need to translate to the NBA on a consistent basis, especially since the Lakers still seem to be a bit short of high-level 3-point shooting.
Become a defensive stopper
From day one, Christie has put forth a high level of effort on the defensive end, and it continued in July during summer league play. At 6-foot-5 and with a wingspan of about 6-foot-9, he seems to have the ability to lock opponents down, at least to some extent.
The Lakers, as recently constituted, do not have any other true reserve off-guards on their roster. Other than newcomer Gabe Vincent, who may be better suited to being a point-of-attack defender, they also do not have any guards who are above-average defenders.
They seem to be putting plenty of stock in Christie emerging this coming season, and it will therefore be very important for him to hold his own on the defensive end on a consistent basis.
Earn major playing time
Cam Reddish, a free agent signing by the Lakers in July, has been discussed as a candidate to snag the backup shooting guard role behind Austin Reaves. However, Reddish is 6-foot-7 and has mostly played forward throughout his four-year career, although one can never be entirely sure how their rotation will shake out once the season begins.
There is always the chance Reddish, a former lottery pick who hasn’t amounted to much, blossoms and becomes a contributor while getting minutes at the 2 spot. Therefore, it is not a given Christie will be a part of the team’s rotation.
He must play well in training camp and the exhibition season to show the Lakers he is at least close to as productive as he looked during summer league play. If he doesn’t, it’s possible he will be in and out of the rotation this season.
But if he looks impressive, he could end up playing a key role for a team that could end up winning the NBA championship next summer.
