NBA draft watch: Max Christie stands out as intriguing prospect
Editor鈥檚 note: The Los Angeles Lakers selected G Max Christie with the No. 35 pick in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft on June 23.
CHICAGO (BVM) 鈥� The 2022 NBA draft will be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN, as many of this year鈥檚 top prospects look to make the jump to basketball鈥檚 highest level. There are several intriguing talents in this year鈥檚 draft with a wide range of outcomes regarding where they could be selected, and one of those is former Michigan State guard Max Christie.
After a strong freshman season, the Spartans鈥� guard decided to declare for the NBA draft, and after working out at the NBA draft combine last month, he chose to officially pursue a pro career.聽
Michigan State freshman G Max Christie will stay in the 2022 NBA Draft and hire an agent, sources tell ESPN. Christie, an All-Big 10 freshman team selection, is participating at the Chicago Pre-Draft Combine this week.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Most mock drafts currently have Christie as a second-round pick, but some see his upside getting him selected late in the first. No matter when he is selected, whoever picks Christie is getting an immense talent, but also a true leader with a strong work ethic according to his high school coach, Kevin Katovich.聽
鈥淲hoever does end up taking him, this will be the person they put on their cover every year because he鈥檚 going to be such a great ambassador for their team,鈥� Katovich said. 鈥淲hen some team calls his name, I鈥檓 just going to be extremely happy for him and his family. I鈥檝e been fortunate enough to see the behind-the-scenes stuff and how hard he works. To be rewarded with that would be outstanding 鈥� I don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e ever seen anyone in all my years in education, in anything, set a goal for something and then not just talk about wanting it, but put in the work and the time, year after year, day after day, to reach that goal.鈥�
Christie鈥檚 talent has long been evident. After first seeing him play when he was in fifth grade and later throughout his middle school years, Katovich knew the guard was special.
鈥淩ight from day one when he came, the first thing that you noticed, what you always notice about Max, is that he always has a huge smile on his face,鈥� Katovich said. 鈥淎nd then he started playing on the court, demonstrating how good he was. It was evident even in fifth grade that he was really, really good, and when he was in eighth grade, we knew that he would be able to move up to varsity as a freshman and be a main contributor for us.鈥�
He did just that, averaging 20 points and nine rebounds in his freshman season. Christie began gaining even more attention for his play during the USA Basketball tryouts for the FIBA World Championships in 2018.聽
Just months later, he put up 51 points playing for Rolling Meadows in an overtime win, culminating his sophomore season by averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds. That despite dealing with an early-season illness and a thigh contusion injury later that year.
The adversity simply made Christie stronger. Averaging similar numbers to his sophomore year in his junior and senior seasons, the guard鈥檚 game took off. By the end of his senior year, Christie had led his team to an undefeated season, finishing his high school career with 2,132 points. He was named and was selected to play in the McDonald鈥檚 All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit.
鈥淒uring his junior year, that鈥檚 when you really saw, not only is he a high-level college kid, this kid鈥檚 an NBA prospect,鈥� Katovich said.
Christie comes from a tight-knit family that has good basketball genes, as his mom, Katrina, was a 1,000-point scorer at Northwestern, and his dad, Cormac, was a former collegiate player at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Meanwhile, Max also got to play alongside his younger brother, Cameron, for the final two seasons of his high school career.
It was Max鈥檚 family that helped him make the decision to play at Michigan State, and the atmosphere and tradition of the program led the basketball standout to East Lansing. Max continued to make his name known while playing for the Spartans as the guard started all but one game last season, averaging 9.3 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 38.2% from the field, and 31.7% from deep.聽
Perhaps most importantly, Max showed no fear while playing in a strong Big Ten conference for a legendary coach in Tom Izzo. He displayed tremendous defensive skill as he guarded some of the top prospects in this year鈥檚 draft during the conference season, and flashed his offensive potential at the same time, highlighted by a 21-point effort against Nebraska, and 16-point efforts against Minnesota, Maryland and rival Michigan.
鈥淚t was a really good fit for him,鈥� Katovich said. 鈥淗is success didn鈥檛 really surprise me 鈥� I think the one thing that was even more impressive than everything else was oftentimes, they鈥檇 put him on the other team鈥檚 best player 鈥� That says a lot about him because that鈥檚 such a tough thing to do, especially in a conference like the Big Ten.鈥�
The 19-year-old鈥檚 strong defense combined with his length and size are things that can make him a valuable asset at the NBA level. So too are his athleticism, basketball IQ, smooth jump shot and ability to create.聽
That freshman smooth 馃敟
Max Christie with the moves for :
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork)
As clear as it is that Max has NBA-level talent, there鈥檚 more to his game than just that.
鈥淗e鈥檚 just an elite talent,鈥� Katovich said. 鈥淣obody realizes or understands how hard he works. He works incredibly hard on the court, in the weight room, he watches more film than anybody else. Nobody鈥檚 going to out-work him and nobody鈥檚 going to out-prepare him.鈥�
After his freshman season with the Spartans, Christie declared for the NBA draft. While he maintained his eligibility initially, a good showing at the combine led him to hire an agent, officially pursuing his pro dreams.
"I know this has been a lifelong dream for and I am excited for him as he takes the next step and continues the process and journey to becoming an NBA player." 馃弨
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball)
Max will likely follow in the footsteps of some recent Spartans drafted into the NBA such as Gary Harris, Miles Bridges, Jaren Jackson Jr., and four-time champion, Draymond Green. Currently, Max is projected to go in a similar spot that Green did when the Golden State Warriors selected him 35th overall in 2012. No matter when he is selected, he is set to make a big impact similar to these past Spartans.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 going to be somebody that鈥檚 in the NBA for a long time,鈥� Katovich said. 鈥淲hat they鈥檙e getting is a complete player, a two-way player. He鈥檚 going to do whatever the team needs to win 鈥� Nobody will be more prepared or out-work him at that next level.鈥�
If and when he is selected, Max will become the 23rd Michigan State player to be drafted during the Tom Izzo era.聽
Recently, he has been back home, stopping in at Rolling Meadows prior to his big moment on Thursday. It鈥檚 a place that has meant a lot to Max, and a community that is eager and proud to hear his name called.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there are words to sum up how much he meant to our school, our culture and obviously, our high school basketball program,鈥� Katovich said. 鈥淗e truly was an ambassador for our school 鈥� I鈥檝e never met a more respectable kid. Here鈥檚 someone with NBA talent, who just wanted to learn, just wanted to get better, but treated everybody, from the second-best player on the team to the managers, the custodians, the administrators, treated them all the same and with respect 鈥� I think the sky鈥檚 the limit for him.鈥�
