NBA Draft 2022: Live scouting report of top Big Ten Basketball prospects
Max Christie – Freshman – Michigan State – 6’6, 190 lbs – February 2003
Christie’s season has been marred by inconsistencies, as his game largely depends on shot-making right now. Against Illinois (in Champaign), Christie struggled against Trent Frazier, who has been a great barometer for how potential NBA players in the Big Ten handle ball pressure and a tight airspace.
Christie has good positional size and length for a wing (with a frame to continue to add more weight) and the shot mechanics look really good, they just don’t always fall. Illinois didn’t give Christie many open looks, but his lack of handle in tight spaces was exposed as he struggled to get to the rim.
Some jumpers from Max Christie's 21 point game on 7-9 shooting last night. I love his shot preparation. He's great at navigating and reading off-ball screens, and setting his feet in rhythm off the catch and bounce. Expecting more games like this moving forward.@WolvesILL pic.twitter.com/ZBZOurp698
— Brandon Simberg (@BrandonSimberg) January 6, 2022
He finished 1-8 from the field with no assists, which isn’t an uncommon statline for him. He’s been up-and-down all season. Christie’s projection will come down to how good of a shooter he truly is. While the mechanics look great, he hasn’t always been a consistent, knockdown shooter dating back to high school. His steal, block numbers haven’t been great, but that’s largely a reflection of Michigan State’s scheme. His length and awareness project him as a positive defender, but if he can’t hit threes super reliably, his value is minimized.
Christie will be one of many prospects with an interesting decision to stay or leave. He could choose to return and improve his 31% percentage from deep and continue to improve on-ball and become a lottery pick. But, I’m not convinced he wouldn’t be a similar-caliber player. I also am not sure Michigan State is the best system for him to grow on offense with limited on-ball reps.
His pre-draft process, and how teams view him will ultimately be the determining factor, and I’d likely take him in the first round if he declared, banking on him eventually becoming a knockdown shooter.