When you are a young player with a ton of potential, wearing the iconic purple and gold jersey, you can expect to feel the heat. But perhaps nothing prepares you for the kind of pressure that comes with the territory when you are under the watchful eyes of LeBron James and a fanbase that expects nothing but excellence.

For Los Angeles, the spotlight can be as much a curse as it is a blessing. And tonight, one 21-year-old is getting a heavy dose of that harsh reality.

Max Christie, who has shown flashes of brilliance as a 3-and-D prospect, found himself in a familiar and uncomfortable situation during the Lakers’ road game against Atlanta. The Hawks fans, known for their rowdy and sometimes hostile energy, made their feelings known early on.

As the game unfolded, the crowd began chanting, “LEBRON WILL TRADE YOU,” — a jarring reminder of the relentless scrutiny that comes with playing for the Purple & Gold. Dave McMenamin tweeted the wild clip with the caption, “Max Christie getting the same treatment from ATL fans that D’Angelo Russell did last season.”

Now, this might seem eerily familiar to many Lakers fans. Last season, D’Angelo Russell was in Christie’s place. Considering the tough season he had last year, the 28-year-old was at the forefront of trade rumors. And one of the teams he was linked to was surprise, the Blackhawks. However, they weren’t … exactly welcoming.

How bad was it, you ask?

Around 10 months ago, McMenamin tweeted a similar video as above. And suffice it to say, the Hawks faithful did not hold back. Chants of “We don’t want you!” rang throughout the State Farm Arena when D’Lo was at the free throw line. At the time, Los Angeles was reportedly looking for a deal to land Dejounte Murray. And the then-8-year veteran’s name was thrown into trade talks.

Of course, nothing materialized. Now, just a season later, Max Christie is enduring the same taunts. It’s the burden of the Lakers’ legacy that impacts every non-LeBron, non-Davis player; the constant uncertainty of their position hangs over them like a shroud, overshadowed by the two superstars.

The Hawks fans’ trade chants reveal harsh LeBron James reality despite Christie’s commendable progress

Although Christie – and many players like him – have managed to make their case, find themselves battling not just for minutes on the court. They are battling perceptions and expectations off the court, as well. Going back to Max, the 2022 second-round pick did get a fresh slate with the arrival of JJ Redick.

Although he had a slow start to the season, injuries and inconsistent bench play turned out to be just the opening he needed. And he took complete advantage of the opportunity. “To be honest, I’m just trying to stay aggressive, and I have full confidence in my shot. I work hard enough every single day to have belief in that, and I wasn’t really worried that I got off to a slow start,” he said after the Lakers’ 101-93 loss to OKC.

But it wasn’t just Christie who felt he was doing his bit and turning into a player the team and fans envisioned him to be. AD, too, had high praise for the young guard. Speaking after their close 105-104 win over the Jazz this month, Davis was thrilled with Max’s development on the defensive end. “He’s playing extremely hard on both ends of the floor. He’s making the right reads. But defensively is where I think he made his biggest stride. We have him guarding a lot of you know elite guards and he’s doing a hell of a job.”

That’s quite an achievement for the Michigan State alum given it’s coming from one of the elite defenders in the league!

And yet, the chanting crowd in Atlanta is a testament to how LeBron’s presence casts a long shadow over the roster. How every young player is potentially seen as a trade bait to build a championship-contending team around the ‘King’. It’s the trade rumor mill at full tilt, and for players like Christie, that means enduring this kind of public treatment. Be it fair or not.

The question now is whether he can rise above the noise. Or will he, like D’Lo before him, be swept up in the whirlwind of trade speculation that comes with being in the orbit of LeBron James?