Max Christie: 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report
The Spartan had a rough freshman year from a production standpoint. A look back at the film revealed a great amount of talent worthy of a first-round grade
As a basketball scout, we wrestle with the hypocrisy of dealing with shooters. On one hand, no position or role on an NBA floor can have its impact measured more concretely than with their 3-point shooting numbers. If you’re a good shooter in college, it’s hard to envision being a poor shooter in that same role in the NBA.
But there’s a competing ideal on the other hand, this notion that process matters. Mechanics, usage, volume, confidence… they are all indicative of someone who carries themselves like a shooter who can have a major impact. The shot just isn’t falling.
Max Christie didn’t have a great year at Michigan State. He’s a very good shooter in theory: smooth stroke, high volume, the confidence to keep taking them even on cold streaks. But he did not shoot the ball well at all with the Spartans, knocking down fewer than 32% of his triples. The question hanging over Christie’s draft stock is pretty clear: does his role make him only as good as his numbers, or does the film about his process matter in predicting future impact?
We tend to be more on the process side of the equation. College is really just a 35-game sample of a player’s career. It’s an important and revealing sample, but is susceptible to numbers being thrown off by slumps, cold streaks or adjustment periods more than most. If you recall, Grant Williams didn’t make a 3-pointer until 22 games into his NBA career, and now he’s one of the most consistent spot-up role players in the league.
Christie has one major area to address: his strength. A long and gangly frame, Christie really struggles with contact on the offensive end. He rarely attacks that basket, and when he does, less than stellar things happen. The lack of strength may not interrupt other parts of his game too much, but his overall body seemed to wear down as the season went on. Perhaps that’s why he finished 24% from 3 over his last 16 games — and was a strong 36.4% through the first 19.
The second watch of Christie gave us the impression that the shooting was legitimate. He has a few mechanical tweaks to make (mostly made around strength) to speed up the release, but those do come with time. He’ll be 19 on draft night. As a long-armed 6’5”, he makes for a very imapctful 2 or 3-man if the shot falls above a 36% mark. He can be used on the move, has a surprising amount of tough-shot-making ability and a smooth turnaround in the mid-range for late-clock moments.
A full second watch gave us confidence in Christie’s shooting picking up in the NBA. But that wasn’t the most appealing part of his game during the watchback.
We were incredibly impressed with Christie’s on-ball defense. His mechanics, how he moves, the length of his arms, the lack of being bothered by size… he has a true future as a positive defender in the NBA.