Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie looking forward to return to Los Angeles
Andscape
Third-year guard has impressed since being part of massive Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade
SAN FRANCISCO – Max Christie was “feeling pretty good” while taking the Los Angeles Lakers’ team bus back to their hotel after scoring 15 points in a road win against the New York Knicks’ … until he suddenly got an odd phone call just before midnight arrived on Feb. 2.
It was Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka who also had head coach J.J. Redick on the line with a stunning message. Christie was told that he and nine-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis were in a blockbuster trade to the Dallas Mavericks for five-time All-Star Luka Doncic. Christie’s call came about 15 minutes before the world found out.
To say that Christie was emotionally affected by the news then and now is an understatement.
“I had my suspicions when I got that call,” Christie, 22, told Andscape after a 126-102 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. “The emotions at that moment obviously were pretty overwhelming. And then going back to the hotel room, I got zero seconds of sleep that night. I was up from 12 [a.m.] to 8:15 [a.m.] I had a flight the next morning at 8:30 to go to Dallas. I was in denial a little bit, at first. I can’t believe this is happening…
“If you look at the magnitude of that trade, it magnifies that emotion. So, I was shocked, man. I was on the floor in the hotel room for two hours just thinking about what was going on. I eventually came to my senses, obviously, and had to put one foot in front of the other and think about what I needed to do next. So far, I’ve had a good job just kind of settling in and just trying to stay present. That’s the biggest thing for me is just being present here, trying to help this team win games.”
Tonight, Doncic will face the Mavericks for the first time since the trade with his Lakers in Los Angeles. While Davis is out due to injury, this will be the first time that Christie will face his former employer.
ALEX NAHORNIAK-SVENSKI/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES
The Lakers selected Christie out of Michigan State with the 35th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft. The shooting guard spent two seasons primarily as a reserve before signing a four-year, $32 million deal on July 6, 2024. Christie has averaged 10.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 3-pointers made per game in 29.3 minutes per game as a starter this season (25 for the Lakers, two for the Mavericks).
While tonight’s matchup could have a revenge type of feel for Doncic, Christie views it as a “homecoming game” that he wants to win.
“I’m not even looking at this game as a ‘revenge game,’” Christie said. “I’m actually looking forward to it from a sense that I get to see old teammates, old colleagues, old coaches. I’m looking forward to just enjoying that game. I want to win, obviously. The Lakers are a playoff team. They’re really, really good. It’s a good test for us as a matchup, as a team as well.
“But I’m not going in there with any bad blood or any intention of trying to drop 40 on them. I’m just going in there to try to win the game, play my game and let the game come to me. I’m not going to go out there and force 25 shots. That’s not what this game is about. That’s not what I’m about.”
So far, Christie appears to be a sneaky notable pickup for Dallas from a production, age and salary standpoint.
Christie is averaging 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 43.6% from 3-point range in 32.6 minutes per game in eight contests with Dallas. The 22-year-old scored a season-high 23 points in a win over Houston on Feb. 8. Aside from scoring two points against Golden State, Christie has scored at least 15 points in every other game with the Mavericks. He says his role with Dallas “is a lot different” than it was with the Lakers.
“Every new team has a different change of scenery,” Christie said. “Everybody has different situations with their offensive, defensive schemes and whatnot. I was just trying to stay present and play my game and be aggressive. With the circumstances with this team now, we got a little bit of injuries. A.D. [Davis] is out…
“I just control what I can control. I can’t control whether they’re going to start me or not. To be honest, it’s really not that important, starting versus coming off the bench. At the end of the day, I need to impact the game in some shape or form.”
TIM HEITMAN/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES
Thompson and Mavericks All-Star guard Kyrie Irving have been impressed with their new teammate. Thompson actually thought that Christie was the son of Sacramento Kings interim head coach Doug Christie for years. Thompson, a renowned sharpshooter, added that Max Christie was a “pleasant surprise,” and he was impressed with his shooting ability.
“I clarified that with him, they’re not related,” Thompson said recently. “They both have the same measurables: Six-foot-six off-guard. I’m incredibly impressed with Max. What a great addition. I’ve had great success with Michigan State guys in my career. He’s another one. They come in knowing how to defend. They are great players. He will have a bright future in this league.”
When asked about what impresses him about Christie’s play, Irving said recently: “His poise and his skill level just iso-ing. And also, just making plays off the dribble on offense, coming off pick and rolls to allow it to flow, being there to catch and shoot. He’s doing a lot of the great nuances you need to be a great perimeter player on both ends of the floor.”
While more than three weeks have passed since the big trade, Christie says he is still adjusting off the court.
Christie said he had “a nice comfortable living in L.A.” with friends. His brother, Cam – a rookie for the Los Angeles Clippers – stayed in the same Los Angeles apartment complex, and the brothers often attended each other’s games, time permitting, in Los Angeles. In Dallas, however, Christie feels unsettled, calling it “unique” living in a hotel room temporarily. He has been challenged to get to know “a lot of new faces real fast.”
“I have moments still in my room or when I’m alone where I’m like, ‘I can’t believe that I’m still here,’ ” Christie said. “I’m very present where I’m at. I’m very happy to be here. It’s really nice to get to know my new teammates and we’ve been winning a lot of games so far since I’ve been here. But I’m still human.
“There are definitely moments where I’m like, ‘I was in L.A. for two and a half years and I felt very, very comfortable there.’ And then I just kind got uprooted and left, which is the business of the NBA and that’s how life works.”
TYLER ROSS/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES
The NBA All-Star break did allow Christie a chance to mentally regroup thanks to his family.
Christie went back to his hometown of Chicago during the All-Star Break. He spent a lot of time hanging out with his brother and parents. Christie is also a big proponent of psychology and mental health. His mother, Katrina, is a licensed psychologist who specializes in mental health. He was also recently seen reading, “The Pursuit of God: A Journey into Intimacy with the Divine,” a 2015 A.W. Tozer novel pushing Christians to deepen their relationship with God.
Christie says he is happy in Dallas.
“I needed it for sure, a lot. And it grounded me,” Christie said of going back to Chicago. “It was good to kind of get a reset and not really worry about everything that was going on with all the moving parts I have over there. I have a phenomenal team that has been able to take care of that for me. But it was good to just relax for a sec, take a deep breath, be able to spend time with the three people that are closest to me and the three people that mean the most to me in my life.
“It was reinforcing what I already know, which is being where your feet are, be present and be yourself unapologetically. Believe in God. Give glory to God. That has helped me a lot on this journey.”
There was a promising sign for the Mavericks when Davis took part in a shooting workout prior to Sunday’s game against Golden State. Davis suffered a left adductor strain in his Mavericks’ debut on Feb. 8 after logging 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in 31 minutes and has been out since. It’s uncertain when Davis or the Mavericks’ other injured centers – Dereck Lively, Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell – will return.
Christie believes the Mavericks (31-27) will be tough to beat on both ends of the floor once they regain full strength with Irving and Davis leading the way.
“All our bigs, Gaff, Lively, Powell, A.D., our defense is going to be unbelievable,” Christie said. “Teams aren’t going to be able to get shots up at the rim because we have so much length in the paint. And then, A.D., obviously offensively, we know what he’s capable of. Gafford and Lively are elite lob threats. Dwight Powell brings a punch with his physicality as well.
“We’re going to be really good when we’re healthy. And the fact that we’re able to stay afloat right now so far with the small ball we’re playing is really good for us. When those guys come back, the amount of juice and punch they bring on both sides of the ball is going to good for us.”
ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.
Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been able to in years and his knees still hurt.
The 2024 NBA Finals MVP spent close to two months of his offseason in island country training, learning about culture
It is common to see NBA players vacation in the offseason in Mexico, the Caribbean and popular European destinations to unwind. Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown is far from common.
This past offseason, the 2024 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player decided to rest his body and mind in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“I went there just for privacy, peace of mind,” Brown, 28, told Andscape. “Just also to learn about different places in the world, just exploring, making relationships with their foundations, exploring relationships through the game. You can help develop other areas.
“I had never been there before. It’s like a small island, not too far off the coast of the UAE [United Arab Emirates], not too far from Dubai and Qatar. I just enjoyed it. I spent the summer away outside of the U.S. [It was a] Different experience for me. It kind of opens your eyes to different parts of the world.”
CANDICE WARD/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES
Bahrain is an island country in West Asia located in the Persian Gulf between the Qatar Peninsula and the northeastern coast of Saudi Arabia. During the NBA offseason, Brown spent about two months in Manama, the capital of Bahrain.
Brown, who will suit up for the Celtics today against their Eastern Conference rival New York Knicks on ABC (1 p.m. ET), had never been to Bahrain before last offseason. But after making one short trip after winning the 2024 NBA title with the Celtics, he loved it so much that he went back. He enjoyed his privacy being respected, meeting some of the country’s brightest minds, and the beauty and culture during his lengthy stay in Manama.
“I learned a lot. I learned about their ethics, the values,” Brown said. It’s a lot different from the U.S. Just different things that they emphasize are different than the things that the U.S. emphasizes. They definitely have a culture that they want to maintain and I respect it…
“The most beautiful part was all of it was the views, being in the water. It’s not too far from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The whole experience was nice.”
Brown also prepared for the 2024-25 NBA season while working out in Bahrain. The four-time NBA All-Star took part in basketball workouts in an arena used in the 13-team Bahraini Premier League. Renowned shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews spent a week in Manama working out Brown, who was photographed working out dribbling a basketball under water while holding a 40-pound weight in the other hand.
Matthews said he has worked Brown out all over America as well as in Spain, England and now Bahrain. But of all the global trips he has made over the last five years, Matthews said none was more special than his trip to Bahrain with Brown.
A post shared by NBA Shooting Coach ( Chris Matthews ) (@lethalshooter)
Matthews was amazed by the beauty and technology of Bahrain and said he appreciated the mental enrichment, care, growth and business acumen he gained from being around Brown.
“Jaylen is a well-rounded young man,” Matthews told Andscape. “It’s not just about basketball with him. Me as a trainer, he elevated my mind. I’m going hard as a trainer and then he says, ‘Did you check in with your kids and wife?’ He cares about you as a person. That’s why I love him. He’s also not self-centered. He was about empowering me and my brand. Putting me in position to win.
“He’s an NBA player helping me with ideas to help my family. He helped me as a person. I consider him one of my best friends. When I was around him, it’s not just about basketball with him. It’s about life.”
JIM POORTEN/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES
On July 6, 2024, Brown and former Celtics teammate Tacko Fall visited Bahrain’s supreme council for youth and sport Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and other dignitaries. Brown’s NBA championship and Finals MVP award were celebrated during the visit with a mammoth green and white cake. And on Sept. 21, 2024, Brown met with Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Bahrain, at the Gudaibiya Palace in Manama. The Prime Minister highlighted Bahrain’s commitment to advancing sports, the role sports can play in building communication between countries and people, and how they are advancing in youth sports, according to a government press briefing.
Brown gained potential business partnerships from those visits and his time in Bahrain.
“We got some mutual business parties,” Brown said. “They got some stuff that they’re investing in that I’m taking a look at. Some stuff that I’m investing in, they’re taking a look at. Also, the Crown Prince is also an ambassador for Hapbee, a wearable technology brand that I’m investing in.”
Matthews spent time with Brown with Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa during his trip.
“Bahrain has people of power,” Matthews said. “They weren’t self-centered. They were asking about community, having morals of life. They [haters] tried to label [Brown] as a person that needs to focus on basketball. I love Jaylen. God put him on Earth to be a leader.”
Brown said his Bahrain connects also helped him set up a week-long trip to Mecca, the religious capital of Saudi Arabia.
Brown is a practicing Muslim who observes Ramadan during the NBA season. Muslims visit Mecca, the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad known as the holiest of Muslim cities, to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. Sacred rituals are performed by Muslims there to strengthen one’s spiritual connection with Allah. Brown took part in the sacred ritual.
“Mecca was amazing. I can’t even put it into words,” Brown said. “After we won a championship, I went to Mecca maybe a week and a half later. To do that and to go on that spiritual journey, there is nothing like it.”
A post shared by Energy Shifter (@fchwpo)
The Celtics are widely viewed as the favorites to repeat as NBA champs, but there has not been a back-to-back champion since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. The Knicks and Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers are capable of derailing the Celtics.
Brown is confident that the Celtics can live up to the challenge and pressure in their journey to win a record 19th NBA title.
“Every year presents its own challenges and you got to make adjustments on the fly,” Brown said. “Just embrace it. Just try to come out and do what your team needs you to do to help get a win and continue to have a solitude in that. We are still learning and growing as a unit. We’ll be better for it in the long run, but it’s been a process.”
Whether the Celtics repeat as champs or not, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Brown visits Bahrain next offseason and eventually has roots there.
“I like the Middle East. There are a lot of misconceptions about the Middle East, but there are a lot of pros as well that I put some value in,” Brown said. “As I continue to grow and think about the future, family, the Middle East is definitely something that think about.”
Matthews said that he dislikes how Brown has often been viewed as being too well-rounded.
In addition to being an NBA star with his own signature shoe, Brown has spoken at Harvard University, attended Cal-Berkeley more for the education than the basketball and is a vice president with the National Basketball Players’ Association. He is one of five players highlighted on the developing second season of Netflix’s Starting 5, and is using his wealth to create a “Black Wall Street” in Boston in hopes of gaining $5 billion in wealth for communities of color. During NBA All-Star Weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area, Brown went to Oakland to take part in Oakstop — a social enterprise that provides workspace, meeting/event space, and creative space to entrepreneurs and communities of color — and visited the Black Panther Party Museum.
Celtics star Jayson Tatum said Brown has always been “open-minded” and wasn’t surprised he spent two months in Bahrain.
“In the summertime he’s going to different places and different cultures,” Tatum told Andscape. “It works. He’s not married. He has no kids. He has the flexibility. I’m envious of that sometimes. He can just go somewhere three weeks at a time. He always talks about just wanting to travel the world and go to different places. I’m happy he gets to do that.”
Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been able to in years and his knees still hurt.
Former NBA veteran draws inspiration from meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s former speechwriter
For five days in mid-April 1963, Dr. Clarence Jones snuck about five sheets of blank paper under his T-shirt into the Birmingham (Ala.) Jail to give to an inmate. The recipient was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Arrested for leading a nonviolent protest against segregation, the prominent civil rights activist wanted to write his response to local white clergymen criticizing his protests and urging him to return to his hometown of Atlanta.
King handed the pieces of paper back to his attorney and speechwriter before he departed. Unbeknownst to Jones at the time, the writings became the Letter from Birmingham Jail.
That was one of the many stories Jones told former NBA player Allan Houston and his father Wade Houston during their two-hour interview in December in San Francisco. Jones talked about his life experiences, including serving alongside King during the Civil Rights Movement.
Allan Houston met Jones at a New York Knicks game on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2024. The Olympic gold medalist walked into the team’s executive suite and saw a group huddled around Jones.
Allan introduced himself and shared about his relationship with his father, Wade, the first Black head coach in the Southeastern Conference. He told Jones that his father inspired him to create his social-impact brand FISLL (Faith, Integrity, Sacrifice, Leadership and Legacy).
Once Allan mentioned Wade, Jones raised his hand, signaling him to stop talking.
“Your father is Wade Houston?” Jones said. “I’m very familiar with you, your father and your story. Your father was an icon because Black coaches had to be better during that time.”
A shocked Allan Houston politely asked Jones to be excused and immediately FaceTimed Wade.
“Like a little kid, I brought the phone to Dr. Jones. He took it and started talking to my dad like they’ve known each other,” Houston said. “And as I watched this conversation, I said, ‘I wish I could video this, but he has my phone.’ “
Allan Houston’s wish came true less than a year later.
Allan Houston shared about his time interviewing Jones alongside his father and the impact it had on their relationship and his individual purpose.
ALLAN HOUSTON
Off camera, he told us that Martin would call him at 11 p.m. and they would talk until 3 a.m. Jones asked King, ‘When do you sleep?’ Jones affirmed that Martin was driven and motivated by the mission but sometimes told his friend, ‘Brother, I gotta get some sleep,’ when the wee hours approached.
Imagine talking to someone MLK trusted with those dialogues. Conversing with someone who challenged his thought process but was still inspired by him was impactful.
We went to dinner after our nearly two-hour sit-down. He shared more compelling stories for another hour, which made me appreciate my role in this world and purpose even more.
I started majoring in math at the University of Tennessee, but I wanted to graduate in four years, so I changed my major to African American Studies. I wrote my senior paper on Selma, where my father recruited basketball players. Now, here I am with a social-impact brand rooted in the values my father taught me and Dr. King’s legacy, talking to a man with a connection to the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.
Because of that, what touched me the most was how Dr. Jones kept discussing the significance of my father and I’s relationship as it related to Black culture. A son honoring his father in love. Rare but possible. Rare but powerful.
‘I am so touched because I am sitting here and seeing a generational bridge,’ Jones said, referring to my father and I during the sit-down. ‘I am seeing and experiencing something I wish every young Black man should experience.’ It moved me when Dr. Jones also said, ‘I’m 93, but as a result of being here, I know I am going to live to be 95, 96, 97. Oh yeah, I’m inspired. I ain’t going nowhere. I’m not gonna leave this.’
His words illuminated the power of unity and community.
Dr. Jones and my father both knew Muhammad Ali. He lived two houses down from my childhood home in Louisville. Jones, as an attorney, helped arrange some of Ali’s fights.
ALLAN HOUSTON
When I was 2 years old, Ali visited our home. Before he left, my father asked him, ‘What was your toughest fight?’
In his third and final fight against Joe Frazier in Manila, Ali said he didn’t want to get off his stool in the 14th round. His trainer, Angelo Dundee, pushed him off the stool, and he went on to knock out Frazier in the 14th. The contest became known as the ‘Thrilla in Manila.’
‘I wanted to give in, but someone pushed me off the stool,’ Ali told my father.
A close friend of mine called me the other day and he said, ‘When we talk, it keeps me going.’ I added my dad to the call, and he shared Ali’s story. My friend cried. A few days before, he had thoughts of giving up. However, our conversation pushed him off his stool.
So, when Dr. Jones inferred that our interview rejuvenated him, I realized that though he might recognize that he’s in his twilight years, he’s inspired that those coming behind him care enough to keep this message of unity going.
I feel like it’s my responsibility to maintain the legacy of Dr. Jones and my father so that more young people can be inspired by the power of fellowship. With that fellowship comes accountability and support, as Jones offered King. FISLL strives to offer the same thing to the youth and their families.
My conversation with Dr. Jones only gives me more fuel and motivation to ensure the next generation doesn’t miss the significance of people like Dr. Jones.
We still have divisive issues plaguing this country. It’s important not to just say, ‘Hey, we recognize our Black icons this month’ and move on.
We have to continually exemplify these values of faith, integrity, sacrifice, leadership, legacy and the heart of God as we strive to honor the likes of Dr. Jones and those who paved the way for us to be here.
Joshua Heron is a freelance sports journalist dedicated to humanizing athletes through his storytelling. He was born in New York but considers himself a true “yaad man” because of his Jamaican upbringing. If you get to know him well enough, “Wah gwan” is likely to become a part of your vocabulary.
The Rookie of the Year candidate earned Rising Stars MVP, finished second in the Slam Dunk Contest and played in the All-Star Game
SAN FRANCISCO – On Monday, San Antonio Spurs rookie guard Stephon Castle will finally get to rest during his first NBA All-Star break.
Castle definitely made his presence known during NBA All-Star Weekend. The 20-year-old earned Most Valuable Player of the Rising Stars Challenge on Feb. 14, finished second in the Slam Dunk Contest to three-time champion Mac McClung on Feb. 15 and played in the NBA All-Star Game with the Rising Stars on Sunday. Next up for Castle is rest in his hometown of Atlanta before the season resumes.
“I’m exhausted. I can’t wait to go home,” a still-perspiring Castle said on Sunday night.
Castle talked with Andscape after he scored six points for Team Candace during their 42-35 first-round loss to Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant and Team Shaq on Sunday night. Castle is an NBA Rookie of the Year candidate, averaging 12.9 points, 3.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game this season while also registering some of the league’s best dunks. The following is a Q&A with the former University of Connecticut star about his breakthrough All-Star Weekend, his reflection on finishing second in the dunk contest, playing with All-Star Victor Wembanyama, future Hall of Famer Chris Paul and new Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox, the absence of legendary head coach Gregg Popovich, life in San Antonio and much more.
Our conversation has been lightly edited and condensed.
It appears that you really put your name on the NBA map after being a part of every night this weekend. What did this whole All-Star Weekend mean to you?
I feel like it was a very successful All-Star Weekend for me to be able to participate in all three days, get my name out there, and have a great showing. I won the Rising Stars MVP, was part of the dunk contest and I played against some of my favorite players to watch growing up. So, it’s been a fun weekend for me. I’m happy about all the exposure and all that. But it’s been super cool for sure.
How would you describe this season for you so far going from being the fourth pick in the 2024 NBA draft to a Rookie of the Year candidate that played an integral part in All-Star Weekend?
If you would’ve told me a year ago I’d be in this position, I probably wouldn’t believe you. But I feel I just became accustomed to all the work I put in and my faith in God. And I thank God for all these opportunities. It’s just a blessing.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich took an indefinite leave of absence in November 2024 after suffering a mild stroke. How much did you get to know him in such a short time? How did his departure affect you?
Me and Coach connected very quickly. I remember when I did my workout with the Spurs before the [NBA draft] combine, before the draft, all that. So, he was one of the first guys to come up to me and have a one-on-one conversation with me. So, when he went out, it definitely hurt. But I know he’s doing better now. I’m happy to know that he’s doing good.
What have you learned from Chris Paul?
Not taking everything too hard on my mental [state]. When I make mistakes, when I have bad games, not being too hard on myself. Understanding that I’m a rookie, [mistakes] are supposed to happen. Just taking every game as an opportunity and a lesson.
What’s the best thing about playing with Victor Wembanyama?
Just how much attention he draws. It just opens up the court for everybody else. He’s super versatile. He’s an unbelievable passer. That is one of the most underrated parts of his game. So, to be able to be a screener for him, you can put him anywhere on the court, and I feel like he’ll thrive, just being an offensive and defensive force for us.
Did you think you would get traded to Sacramento or elsewhere when it became apparent that Fox wanted to come to San Antonio?
Not really. I definitely saw [rumors] and everything. But I was really just focused on playing. San Antonio is really a home culture. They brought me in and told me things that I feel like any rookie would want to hear, especially in year one. So, coming into the trade deadline, not really…
It made me feel like they wanted me to be a part of something that they’re pushing towards, and it definitely made me feel good about it.
How do you and Fox coexist going forward?
That’s my guy. Me and him connected right away as soon as he came here. I love playing with D-Fox. He plays super-fast. That is how I like to play. Super unselfish. He can go get a bucket whenever you need him to. Yeah, he’s super cool and a great guy off the court, too.
ADAM HAGY/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES
You finished second in the slam dunk competition to Mac McClung. Looking back, was there anything you would have done differently?
I’ve been thinking about it since, honestly. I felt like my third dunk could have been a 50, but I understand it being a 49. But if I’d just made it on the first try, I probably would’ve got the edge.
The Spurs have a 23-29 record and are in the 12th spot in the Western Conference. With Fox now on the roster, where do the Spurs go from here for the rest of the season?
We’re using the break to reflect on the good and the bad that we did before the All-Star break and to fix a couple of things up before we try to make a push.
What have you learned about the NBA that you didn’t know before arriving?
How much free time we get outside of basketball. I’m finding hobbies. I’m super obsessed with basketball. I watch basketball all day. Play, obviously. When I get on the video game, I probably play NBA2K. So, I’m surrounded by basketball all day. So, I’m just finding other hobbies to take my mind off of it sometimes.
Have you figured out San Antonio yet?
A little bit, yeah. It is a real, real calm city compared to Atlanta. So, San Antonio compared to that real calm, real chill, real quiet. So, I love the city. It’s super nice.
Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been able to in years and his knees still hurt.
Instead of reaching to restore competitive edge, lean into powerful history of the game — starting with Globetrotters and Rens in 2026
“The old days done gone, and I say ‘Goodbye.’ ” – Nikki Giovanni, Conversations
For the last 72 hours I’ve been listening with amusement to NBA veterans and analysts who should know better, wringing their hands and talking about the good old days as it relates to the NBA All-Star Game.
They rhapsodize about how “in my day” All-Stars used to go at each other. They admonish this new group of NBA players for not “trying hard.” They harken back to the good old days when NBA used the All-Star Game as a vehicle to prove who was best. Critics wonder how the competitive spirit of the NBA All-Star Game vanished and what pressure can be brought to bear to make these All-Stars play hard.
Back in the day when the NBA championship series was still on tape delay and the dunk was fresh and new, the All-Star Game was competitive, and the Slam Dunk Contest was innovative. In the same era, NBA players would participate in summer league games and play in places like the Rucker League in New York, which was considered a rite of passage.
The NBA has priced itself out of gratuitous competition except when it counts — and it counts during the playoffs. The All-Star Game is largely a social extravaganza with a little basketball sprinkled in.
Today’s players are more athletic than ever. They’ve been playing more basketball than ever. They’ve been competing at multiple levels longer than ever. They also play a rigorous 82-game schedule. The All-Star Game is simply a bridge to the rest of the NBA schedule and the playoffs.
Stop the handwringing and accept it.
AARON ONTIVEROZ/THE DENVER POST
In 2023, the National Football League recognized that it was ludicrous to hold a full contact Pro Bowl Game and transitioned to a flag football game and skills contest.
The National Hockey League temporarily dropped its all-star format this month in favor of the 4 Nations Face-Off featuring teams representing Canada, Finland, Sweeden, and the United States. The tournament will wrap on Wednesday. The competition, from everything I’ve read, has been ferocious.
Every year with varying degrees of un-success, the NBA has attempted all different types of configurations to rekindle interest and excitement in its All-Star Game. None of the formats have achieved the result of restoring a competitive edge to the game.
But why should there be an “edge” in an exhibition game?
This year, the league adopted a mini-tournament format featuring four teams: three teams of NBA All-Stars and the winners of the Rising Stars Challenge that was played on Feb. 14. Charles Barkley’s Global Stars won the first game. Shaquille O’Neil’s OGs defeated the Rising Stars coached by Candace Parker. The OG’s defeated the Global Stars in a lackluster, anti-climactic championship game typically devoid of defense and consistent effort.
That effort will come during the playoffs and in select games needed to qualify for the playoffs. Why is that so difficult for critics to understand?
You’d think that an appreciation for NBA All-Stars playing hard would have been satisfied during the Paris Olympics this summer when the United States men’s team played brilliantly — coming back to beat Serbia in the semifinal game, then winning the gold medal by defeating France. We saw LeBron James at his best, Stephen Curry at his best, Kevin Durant at his best. Why anyone would expect that kind of effort in a meaningless All-Star Game is beyond me.
But since the NBA continues to throw ideas against the wall, here’s a suggestion for the 2026 All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
Next year, the iconic Harlem Globetrotters will celebrate the team’s 100th anniversary. The NBA should acknowledge the Globetrotters anniversary in its showcase game by returning to the East/West format and by naming the teams Team Globetrotters and Team Rens in honor of the New York Renaissance, the first Black-owned professional basketball team. Each team would wear the Globetrotters and Rens uniforms.
Given all the gimmicks the NBA has tried, why not lean into real Black history?
BETTMANN
JENNY EVANS/GETTY IMAGES
The Globetrotters were Showtime before the Lakers. What was considered clowning at the time— slick ball handing, “trick” shots, long-range shooting, even the dunks — have long become a standard part of the NBA game. And the ‘Trotters, along with the Rens, were a refuge for great Black players banned from playing in white professional leagues.
Along with the Harlem Rens, the Globetrotters took on the best competition each of them could find. In 1939, the Rens won the inaugural World Championship of Professional Basketball tournament. In the 1940s and 1950s, the ‘Trotters could have made a claim to being the best team in the United States.
They beat powerful, all-white Minneapolis Lakers teams in 1948 and 1949, and some make the argument that the Globetrotters’ high-profile victories pushed the NBA to desegregate in 1950. Former Globetrotter Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton signed with the New York Knicks, becoming the first Black player to sign an NBA contract. That same year, Chuck Cooper became the first player drafted by an NBA team when the Boston Celtics took him. Also in 1950, Earl Lloyd became the first African American to play in an NBA game.
At a time when attempts are being made to whitewash Black history, a Globetrotters/Rens NBA All-Star Game next year in Los Angeles would present an opportunity for the league to set the record straight. Such a game on the NBA’s main stage would educate many of its players and tell the public how the NBA came to have an abundance of Black players.
Indeed, if the league’s players study the Globetrotters’ history and the parallel history of the Harlem Rens, they might be compelled, without gimmicks, to take the game seriously. By doing so, the players would honor these two iconic franchises and the Black men who played on them.
Sunday’s All-Star Game was a valiant swing and miss by the NBA at restoring the All-Star Game’s luster. Next year, the NBA should pay tribute.
Yes, the NBA All-Star Game is an exhibition, but a Globetrotters-Rens tribute is powerful history.
William C. Rhoden is a columnist for Andscape and the author of Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete. He directs the Rhoden Fellows, a training program for aspiring journalists from HBCUs.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads
© 2025 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.
UP NEXT FROM SPORTS
UP NEXT FROM SPORTS
UP NEXT FROM SPORTS
UP NEXT FROM SPORTS
UP NEXT FROM SPORTS
MENU
Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie looking forward to return to Los Angeles
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown finds peace of mind in Bahrain
Allan Houston reflects on interviewing Dr. Clarence Jones
San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle puts in a full NBA All-Star Weekend
The NBA All-Star Game is entertainment. Let it be.
RELATED STORY
RELATED STORY
Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie looking forward to return to Los Angeles
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown finds peace of mind in Bahrain
Allan Houston reflects on interviewing Dr. Clarence Jones
San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle puts in a full NBA All-Star Weekend
The NBA All-Star Game is entertainment. Let it be.
RELATED STORY
RELATED STORY
RELATED STORY
Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie looking forward to return to Los Angeles
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown finds peace of mind in Bahrain
Allan Houston reflects on interviewing Dr. Clarence Jones
San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle puts in a full NBA All-Star Weekend
The NBA All-Star Game is entertainment. Let it be.
RELATED STORY
Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie looking forward to return to Los Angeles
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown finds peace of mind in Bahrain
Allan Houston reflects on interviewing Dr. Clarence Jones
San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle puts in a full NBA All-Star Weekend
The NBA All-Star Game is entertainment. Let it be.
RELATED STORY
RELATED STORY
Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie looking forward to return to Los Angeles
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown finds peace of mind in Bahrain
Allan Houston reflects on interviewing Dr. Clarence Jones
San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle puts in a full NBA All-Star Weekend
The NBA All-Star Game is entertainment. Let it be.
RELATED STORY
RELATED STORY
Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis are NBA’s latest chess board pieces
Read now
The NBA’s encroachment on Super Bowl week and what the future could hold
Read now
Jaylen Brown’s impact goes further than the Celtics’ championship
Read now
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown takes his mother on a surreal trip
Read now
The significance of Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown: MVP of a movement
Read now
MLK speechwriter Dr. Clarence B. Jones gets tribute from Golden State Warriors
Read now
‘His spirit was infectious’: Dikembe Mutombo and his legacy celebrated at NBA All-Star Weekend
Read now
UConn guard Stephon Castle’s humility leads to ‘perfect situation’
Read now
How to fix the NBA All-Star Game
Read now
Damian Lillard returns to Oakland roots for NBA All-Star Game
Read now
Mavericks’ Max Christie Has No Bad Blood For Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks face off on Tuesday night in a game that is absolutely flooded with storylines. The biggest is Luka Doncic’s first game against his former team, and the next is Anthony Davis’ return to Los Angeles. Davis is out and the game is not in Dallas, lessening the impact of both stories.
However, it is also the return to L.A. for Max Christie. The third-year guard plays his first game back in Los Angeles after he was dealt to Dallas as part of the Doncic trade. The 22-year-old had truly been rounding into form and becoming an incredible role player in L.A. when the trade happened at the beginning of February, and he has only elevated his game since.
In eight games as a Maverick, Christie is averaging 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists on 50.0% from the field, 43.6% from three and 84.0% from the free throw line. He scored at least 15 points in his first seven games with the team.
Christie has had a little under a month to reflect on the craziest day of his professional career up to this point, and spoke about what the trade and the aftermath was for him, according to Marc J. Spears via Andscape:
“I had my suspicions when I got that call,” Christie, 22, told Andscape after a 126-102 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. “The emotions at that moment obviously were pretty overwhelming. And then going back to the hotel room, I got zero seconds of sleep that night. I was up from 12 [a.m.] to 8:15 [a.m.] I had a flight the next morning at 8:30 to go to Dallas. I was in denial a little bit, at first. I can’t believe this is happening…
“If you look at the magnitude of that trade, it magnifies that emotion. So, I was shocked, man. I was on the floor in the hotel room for two hours just thinking about what was going on. I eventually came to my senses, obviously, and had to put one foot in front of the other and think about what I needed to do next. So far, I’ve had a good job just kind of settling in and just trying to stay present. That’s the biggest thing for me is just being present here, trying to help this team win games.”
The young 3-and-D guard absolutely could be using the trade as motivation to go in and play his best against his former team. However, Christie is taking a far more mature approach to his return, simply viewing it as a chance to see old friends and hopefully get a victory for his team:
“I’m not even looking at this game as a ‘revenge game,’” Christie said. “I’m actually looking forward to it from a sense that I get to see old teammates, old colleagues, old coaches. I’m looking forward to just enjoying that game. I want to win, obviously. The Lakers are a playoff team. They’re really, really good. It’s a good test for us as a matchup, as a team as well.
“But I’m not going in there with any bad blood or any intention of trying to drop 40 on them. I’m just going in there to try to win the game, play my game and let the game come to me. I’m not going to go out there and force 25 shots. That’s not what this game is about. That’s not what I’m about.”
There is a reason Christie developed such a positive reputation among the fanbase and the franchise during his 2.5 years in L.A. He is a talented and level-headed young player who works hard and simply wants his team to win. He has qualities that any fan and organization roots for.
He’ll certainly receive a welcome reception when he takes the floor for the Mavericks in L.A. on Tuesday night, but after that Christie will focus on trying to beat his former team.
If Max Christie developed one huge fan over the past few months, it’s Lakers head coach JJ Redick. The first-time head coach came into the season with a plan to heavily feature Christie, and that paid off instantly in the short time he was on the Lakers roster.
Now that he’s in Dallas, Redick plans to continue rooting for Christie and watching him succeed in a different uniform.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
JJ Redick invested in Max Christie for rest of career
Categories
Information
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
How do you feel about the secrecy of the trade negotiation leading to Luka Doncic joining the Lakers?
MAX CHRISTIE FITTING IN SO SEAMLESSLY WITH MAVS
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
Copyright © 2025 NBA Media Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by the Privacy Policy / Your California Privacy Rights and Terms of Use | Accessibility and Closed Caption | AdChoices
Designed and developed by MG Marketing.
