While much of the attention was on Bronny James, it was Max Christie who made the biggest impact during Friday night’s game, as noted by Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
The 21-year-old shooting guard, who recently inked a four-year, $32 million contract, showcased his potential with an all-around performance.
Christie finished the night with 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks in 34 minutes of action, starting the preseason strong.
The players’ defensive improvement has been a particular focus, largely due to a challenge from head coach J.J. Redick. “He’s asked me to be kind of that dog on defense, pick up full-court,” Christie said after the game.
“I tried to do a little bit of that tonight. There’s a comfort level that I’m going to get a little bit more comfortable with. I haven’t really done that a lot in my career.”
His increased defensive intensity is part of an ongoing effort to become a more complete player. Redick’s request for Christie to take on a more aggressive defensive role, pressuring opponents full-court, is something the young guard is still adjusting to.
But Friday’s performance demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion.
With his improved defensive mindset and solid preseason debut, Christie is positioning himself as a key player to watch as the season progresses, showing that he is eager to embrace the new responsibilities asked of him by Redick.
Lakers Notes: LeBron, Davis, Bronny, Christie, Knecht https://t.co/mGhTb6TtCm pic.twitter.com/80mjgj7fA1
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 6, 2024
