Max Christie was stunned when he learned he had been included in the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The 22-year-old guard, who had spent his entire NBA career with the Lakers, struggled to process the news when it came just minutes before the deal became public.
Christie recalled the moment Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, along with head coach J.J. Redick, delivered the unexpected call. “I had my suspicions when I got that call,” Christie told Marc J. Spears of Andscape. “The emotions at that moment obviously were pretty overwhelming.”
The trade, finalized on February 2, sent Doncic, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, to the Lakers. In exchange, Dallas acquired Christie, Anthony Davis, and a 2029 first-round pick. The Utah Jazz also received Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 second-round pick from Los Angeles.
Christie admitted that the shock kept him awake the entire night. “I was in denial a little bit, at first. I can’t believe this is happening,” he said. “I was on the floor in the hotel room for two hours just thinking about what was going on.” Despite the emotions, Christie quickly adjusted to his new reality, focusing on making an impact in Dallas.
Since arriving in Dallas, Christie has taken on a much larger role. Before the trade, he averaged 8.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 25.1 minutes per game. With the Mavericks, his production has jumped to 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 32.6 minutes per contest.
Meanwhile, Doncic has been easing into his role with the Lakers under a minutes restriction due to a calf injury. Since the trade, he has averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, down from the 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists he posted in Dallas before the move. His best performance so far came against the Denver Nuggets on February 22, when he scored 32 points.
Tonight, Christie and Doncic will face off against their former teams for the first time. While Doncic may have revenge on his mind, Christie sees the game differently. “I’m actually looking forward to it from a sense that I get to see old teammates, old colleagues, old coaches,” he said. “I want to win, obviously.”
The Mavericks (31-27) enter the game sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference, fighting to avoid the play-in tournament. The Lakers (34-21) hold the fourth seed and are pushing for home-court advantage in the playoffs.
Dallas will be without Davis, who remains sidelined with an adductor strain. The Mavericks have leaned on Kyrie Irving to carry the offense since the trade, while the Lakers continue to integrate Dončić into their system.
The trade that sent Doncic to Los Angeles has been widely debated, with many questioning Dallas’ decision to part ways with its franchise player. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison defended the move, stating, “I believe that defense wins championships.” However, Doncic reportedly felt blindsided by the trade, learning about it only after it was completed.
Despite the emotions surrounding the move, both teams are looking ahead. For Christie, the adjustment period in Dallas has gone well. “So far, I’ve done a good job just settling in and trying to stay present,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing for me—just being present and trying to help this team win games.”
