Cormac Karl Christie Jr., better known as Max Christie Jr., was the 35th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Rapidly maturing and evolving as a player, his commitment to defending and going for the best player on the opposite team has certainly delighted JJ Reddick of late. As his offense also improves with each passing game, the Los Angeles Lakers may have a future star on their hands.

To anyone who has followed his college career though, this will not be surprising in the slightest. After all, he is a second-generation athlete whose parents both played basketball. Now, if you’re unaware of his background, don’t fret because that’s what we’ll discuss today.

Who are Max Christie Jr.’s parents?

His father is, of course, Max Christie Sr., and he was a significant influence in his son’s athletic career. Christie Sr. was a semi-professional basketball player in his youth. Although, he could never translate that into playing in the NBA. As a hoopster, Christie Sr., amid offers from other colleges like the University of Wisconsin-Superior, played for the Parkland College basketball team, 

However, Max Christie Sr. soon recognized that his ability as a basketball player would not carry him far, especially in the NBA. So, he decided to refocus and move away from basketball as his profession, choosing to become a pilot instead.

But Max Christie Sr. was not the only one who paved the way for Max Christie Jr. to become a basketball player. His mother, Katrinas Christie, was also a basketball player and a pretty good one at that! 

While she pursued her degree in psychology at Northwestern University, Katrinas played for the Northwestern Wildcats women’s basketball team. In her college career, she amassed over 1,000 points while playing for the Wildcats. It’s pretty clear now that basketball runs through Max Christie Jr.’s veins. 

A deeper dive into his career before the NBA

Christie Jr. played for Rolling Meadows High School in Illinois. His sophomore year saw him average 25.5 points, his highest as a high schooler, while also dropping a career-high of 51 points against Elk Grove High School. A consensus five-star recruit, Max Christie Jr. was one of the best shooting guards in the 2021 class by the time he was ready for college.

Despite having offers from Duke, Ohio State, and Vilanova, Max chose to play at Michigan State for the Michigan State Spartans. In the 35 games he played for them, the Lakers’ point guard averaged 9.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team for his efforts.

Soon after though, Max declared himself for the 2022 NBA Draft. He hired an agent for the same while also maintaining college eligibility. And soon, the Lakers would come calling, picking him as the 35th overall pick.

From being a 5-star recruit to playing with LeBron James in his rookie season, Max’s career trajectory has only gone up. If he can capitalize on the incredible potential he has, Max Christie Jr. may be a name we’ll hear for years to come!