The Dallas Mavericks (4-11) enter Wednesday’s high-profile matchup against the New York Knicks with just two wins in their last 10 games.
The season is off to a disappointing start, considering their internal championship expectations, but Max Christie has been one of the lone bright spots for the Mavericks.
The fourth-year shooting guard is quietly producing his best season, averaging career-highs in points (12.1), rebounds (3.3) and assists (2.6). Even more impressively, he’s had one of the most consistent shooting starts of any Mavericks player with career-highs of 47.3% from the field and 45.8% from beyond the 3-point line.
Christie attributes his impressive shooting start to an intentional effort to be more poised and confident when the ball finds him.
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“I’m hunting my shot more,“ Christie said. “I’m not passing up opportunities. I think that’s all it really is. … Being more confident, but keeping things simple too. Not trying to do too much.”
Christie’s assertiveness in his first full season with the Mavericks could’ve been foreshadowed last season when he arrived in Dallas alongside Anthony Davis in a trade that sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. He started 25 games for the Lakers prior to the trade and shot 36.8% from beyond the arc, which carried over to his 32 games last season with the Mavericks.
In the Mavericks’ new, but woeful offense, Christie usually roams from corner to corner, waiting on the opportunity to launch from 3. He leads the NBA in left corner 3-pointers with 18, with San Antonio’s Julian Champagnie second from that spot with 12 triples.
“It’s technically the easiest 3-point shot,” Christie said. “Just been working on that all the time. Those should be automatic. … To be able to be lights out from the corner is important for us. Those spots are usually open on teams that really crack down on the paint.”
Confidence has always been an area Christie has discussed throughout his career. That intangible is a skill most shooters possess. And shooting has always been his best skill as a career 38.3% 3-point shooter. The Mavericks called upon Christie to have an increased role three games into the season when Dereck Lively II suffered a right knee sprain, which opened up a spot in the starting lineup.
Christie has been a starter for the last 12 games and has provided a shooting presence that the Mavericks have desperately needed. As a team, Dallas ranks 29th in the NBA in 3-point shooting with a 31% clip from beyond the arc.
“He might be one of the guys that is shooting the ball straight, and so we need him to look to be a little bit more aggressive and let a couple more fly,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said.
Christie leads the team in 3-point percentage and 3-pointers made, which was a personal goal of his. Jaden Hardy is the only other Maverick shooting better than 40% on triples (45.5%). Longtime sharpshooter Klay Thompson’s perimeter shooting has improved over the last week, but he’s shooting a career-low 31.1% from beyond the arc.
In order for the Mavericks to improve their putrid start to the season, their worst 15-game start since the 2017-18 season, Christie will play a pivotal role with his hot hand.
“I know in order for this team to win and to help this team, if I continue to shoot the ball at a high level, then we’ll be in good positions,” Christie said.
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