Dallas Mavericks, Max Christie
Coming off their week-long break due to the NBA’s All-Star weekend, the Dallas Mavericks secured a win against the injury-plagued New Orleans Pelicans with a 111-103 victory. Kyrie Irving led the charge, continuing to guide the team both on and off the court in this post-Luka Doncic era with his leadership and composure.
Irving delivered an impressive 35 points, shooting 11-22 from the field and going a perfect 8-8 from the free-throw line. He demonstrated his scoring versatility by capitalizing on every defensive matchup New Orleans presented. Now in his 14th NBA season, Irving’s sustained dominance is remarkable, and the Mavericks will need him performing at this level to endure their current stretch without their three primary rotation big men—an absence expected to last at least until early March.
P.J. Washington has also stepped up significantly in the wake of the Doncic trade. He’s been more aggressive than ever, attacking the rim and shooting efficiently from beyond the arc. Against the Pelicans, Washington showcased his two-way skillset with 24 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, proving that his ability to drive and create shots continues to evolve.
Max Christie Needs a Starting Role or a Bigger Offensive Presence
While Irving and Washington have led the team through this challenging period of fan frustration and a depleted roster, the biggest surprise has been Max Christie. The newly acquired guard has demonstrated tremendous shot-creation ability in just seven games with Dallas since being traded for the first time at only 22 years old. Given his performance on both ends of the court, it’s time for head coach Jason Kidd to either expand his role or make him a regular in the starting lineup.
In the Mavericks’ recent matchup against the Pelicans, Christie showcased his ability to handle pressure, hitting multiple tough mid-range jumpers off the dribble despite solid defense. He’s unpredictable when attacking closeouts, and his efficiency is difficult to ignore. Off the bench, he played 32 minutes, scoring 16 points on an impressive 6-7 shooting night, making it increasingly difficult for Kidd to keep him off the court.
Christie also posted a game-high +24 in plus-minus, highlighting his growing impact defensively. Standing at 6-foot-5 with a hybrid guard/wing skillset, he brings length, athleticism, and strong rebounding for his size.
Kidd has certainly given Christie more offensive freedom than he had with the Lakers, but he still primarily utilizes him as a sixth man and secondary playmaker. Normally, that would be a solid role, but with Dallas in desperate need of additional shot creation following the departure of Doncic and Anthony Davis’ injury, Christie deserves a larger responsibility as the team’s primary offensive option behind Irving.
Since joining the Mavericks, Christie has averaged 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting an ultra-efficient 51.9% from the field, 47.2% from three, and 84.0% from the free-throw line. Though he showed glimpses of becoming a high-level role player in Los Angeles, no one anticipated his efficiency to remain this high in an expanded role while maintaining his defensive prowess.
While some may question if Christie’s success in Dallas is just a short-term surge, his continued consistency suggests otherwise. Given his age, it’s not out of the question that he could develop into an All-Star-caliber player if he sustains this level of performance.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Kidd soon decides to insert Christie into the starting lineup or make him the team’s primary secondary ball handler after Irving. However, he needs to make this move sooner rather than later, as Christie is proving to be the Mavericks’ best offensive option outside of Irving—outperforming Spencer Dinwiddie and Jaden Hardy in that regard.
