LOS ANGELES – Just about everybody knows the Dallas Mavericks obtained forward Anthony Davis in that Feb. 2 trade
that sent point guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.
What a lot of folks may not know is that the Mavs also obtained guard Max Christie in that much talked about trade. And Christie has fit in so seamlessly with the Mavs, it’s as if he’s been playing with them for years.
“My game is relativity versatile,” Christie told Mavs.com. “I can do a bunch of different things, whether it’s shoot and defend, play off the ball, play on the ball.
“I’m just trying to fit into this system. It’s just me controlling what I can control and trying to help this team win as much as I can.”
Christie, who turned 22 on Feb. 10, has scored at least 15 points in seven of the eight games he’s played for the Mavs. Coach Jason Kidd describes it as Christie coming into his new surroundings and promptly taking the time to properly handle his business.
“You look at his age and he’s a lot more mature for a (22) year old,” Kidd said. “(I like) his ability to understand the time and score and the moment.
“Before the trade he was playing at a high level. For him to be able to do the things that he’s doing at a high level, both offensively and defensively, you got to give him a lot of credit.”
As he detailed how he found out about the trade, Christie admitted it was as much a shock to him as anybody else as it took over the Internet.
“I was on a Lakers’ team bus headed back from a game when Rob Pelinka — the general manager of the Lakers — called me and was just letting me know what’s going on,” Christie said. “I was shocked, for sure.
“You hear about trades from peers and what-not. This is probably one of the biggest trades in NBA history that I was a part of, which is flattering. It’s a whirlwind and I’m still trying to get my feet settled.”
The NBA All-Star break came less than two weeks after the trade, giving Christie ample time to go home and fully digest everything.
“I was in Chicago back at home spending time with family, and it was good to get a recharge,” Christie said. “Obviously, it’s been a little bit of a whirlwind for me the last couple of weeks, so it’s good to kind of get my feet settled and spend time with family.
“There’s been just a lot of changing and moving pieces. For me I’m just trying to focus on what I can control, which is my attitude and my effort and my energy. So, I’m focusing on those things and just trying to play the best basketball I can play.”
New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green believes Christie has been underrated as a player, considering he’s solid on both ends of the court and was starting for the Lakers when the trade went down.
“Watching him, he’s a competitor,” Green said. “He gets on the floor, and he’s getting to it pretty quickly. He’s a scorer, he’s got good size, good athleticism (and) he has a nose to guard the ball.
“He seems like a really good addition for the Mavs. I watched him when he was with the Lakers and he was getting better. He seems like he plays with a chip on his shoulders.”
Apparently, that chip won’t be on Christie’s shoulders when the Mavs square off against the Lakers on Tuesday. Even with so many emotions attached to this game given the dynamics and the idea that the Mavs will be playing against Dončić for the first time, Christie said:
“It’s just another game, to be honest. Obviously, I’m excited to see a lot of my old colleagues, but at the end of the day, it’s another team we’re trying to get a win against. I’m not going to put any extra emphasis on it.
“I’m just going to go there and enjoy being back where I was for two-and-a-half years and enjoy seeing some old teammates and old friends, and try to get a win.”
The Lakers selected Christie in the second round – the No. 35th overall pick – of the 2022 NBA Draft out of Michigan State. He’s played his entire career with
Davis and speaks highly of the player who has a very distinguished resume.
“He’s phenomenal,” Christie said of Davis. “When he’s available and he’s healthy – which he has been for the past two seasons – he’s a force to be reckoned with.
“He’s obviously a bona fide All-Star this year and last year. He does so much for us on offense and defense. He’s a Defensive Player of the Year type of player.”
While singing the praises of Davis, Christie is averaging 15.3 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Mavs, and shooting 50 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from behind the three-point stripe. His contributions are much needed considering the number of injured players the Mavs currently have on the bench in street clothes.
“I wouldn’t use the word surprise,” Kidd said, referring to Christie’s production. “I think we welcome that, especially with all the injuries. We’re going to need him to 
continue to play at that level.”
Christie also hopes to branch out into the Dallas/Fort Worth communities and introduce himself to those who support him and the Mavs.
“Everybody’s been showing me a lot of love,” Christie said. “I’m looking forward to getting out in the community and kind of showing my face to everybody. The fans have been phenomenal.
“I hear a lot of good things about the Dallas community and what it brings and what we can bring to them as well. So, I’m looking forward to kind of immersing myself in that and trying to bring happiness and support right to the fans and to everybody in the community.”
And while he’s doing all of that, Christie will have to remind himself to make sure he goes to the right Cyrpto.com Arena locker room on Tuesday night.
“I’ll know which one to go to this time, but it’ll feel weird and it’ll be a new experience for me,” he said. “It’s my first time playing against (the Lakers).
“But I’m looking forward to competing and, again, seeing old colleagues and friends and teammates and really just enjoying my time out there. There’s no bad blood or anything like that.”
Here are some other nuggets surrounding Tuesday’s game between the Mavs and Lakers.
*This is the finale of a short two-game trip for the Mavs, which started with Sunday’s 126-102 loss at the Golden State Warriors. After Tuesday, the Mavs return
home to open a three-game home stand on Thursday against Charlotte. The home stand continues when the Mavs host Milwaukee on Saturday and Sacramento on Monday.
*The Lakers will start a six-game home stand on Tuesday when they entertain the Mavs. They also will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday and will have a pair of games against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday and Sunday. In addition, the Lakers will host New Orleans on March 4 and the New York Knicks on March 6.
*In this must-see nationally televised game, the Mavs unfortunately will be without centers Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress 
fracture) and Daniel Gafford (right MCL sprain), forwards Anthony Davis (strained left adductor) and Dwight Powell (right hip strain), and guard Caleb Martin (strained hip), while the Lakers don’t have any significant injuries.
*The Lakers are 2-2 in games Luka Dončić has played. He finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals in Saturday’s 123-100 win at Denver. LeBron James (25 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three blocks), Austin Reaves (23 points, seven assists) and Rui Hachimura (21 points, 4-of-9 three-pointers) also contributed mightily in that game against Denver.
*The Mavs have won three of their last four games. They also are 5-4 since trading Dončić. Three of those wins came at Boston (127-120) and at home against Houston (116-105) and Golden State (111-107).
DALLAS MAVERICKS (31-27) at LOS ANGELES LAKERS (34-21)
When: 9 p.m., Tuesday
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
TV: TNT
Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
X: @DwainPrice
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