Max Christie sparks Mavericks with career-high 26 in dominant win over Knicks on MLK Day

For Max Christie, the NBA changed in a matter of hours. One moment, he was celebrating a strong win with the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 15 points in a historic game, at the Madison Square Garden. Next, he learned that a major trade was taking place, that he was a part of.The trade, which took place in early 2025, sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Lakers’ Anthony Davis, while also sending Christie on his way out of Los Angeles. While the spotlight stayed firmly on Doncic and Davis, At the time, few imagined that the young guard would soon become one of the Mavericks’ most dependable shootersThe trade was one of the biggest in the history of the NBA. Even though Max’s time with the Lakers was short and often depended on injuries or rotation changes, and while Anthony Davis’ time in Dallas has been quite frustrating due to repeated injuries, however, for Max, the move to the Dallas Mavericks gave him something new: a room to grow. His role has grown. Instead of being asked to simply fill gaps, Max was encouraged to play freely and shoot confidently. That freedom has paid off. Christie has steadily become one of Dallas’ most important three-point shooters this season. His confidence peaked during a win against the New York Knicks, by scoring 26 points, his best so far, a score he had never reached before. Max Christie’s career night was not just about numbers. It reflected his mental strength as well. “I had no idea, but I’ll get more opportunities at that”, Christie said after the game. When the topic of the NBA’s 3-Point Contest came up after the win, Christie didn’t hide his excitement, “That’d be super cool. Something I definitely wouldn’t turn down. Something that would be a dream come true for me and if I get the nod, that would be amazing. If not, I’m still grateful for the season I’m having so far”, he said. For now, Max Christie and the Dallas Mavericks are focused on what lies ahead, as they are all set to return home for a game against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, followed by another one with the Los Angeles Lakers later this week.