The round two 35th overall pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2022 NBA Draft, Max Christie, has drawn plenty of comparisons to the Lakers legend Kobe Bryant on social media.
Certainly, the Lakers rookie has much to prove on the court if he wants to keep the comparison alive, but a recent interview has fans convinced that he could be the next Mamba.
The Michigan alumnus was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top shooting guards in the 2021 class.
Following their victory over the Grizzlies on 7th March 2023, the Lakers assigned Christie to their NBA G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
So, what’s the fuss about? Is he really that good that some fans became compelled enough to call him the incarnation of Kobe?
Let’s find out!
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Cormac Karl “Max” Christie Jr. |
| Known As | Max Christie |
| Nickname | Max |
| Birthdate | February 10, 2003 |
| Age | 21 Years Old |
| Birthplace | Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States |
| Current Residence | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Father’s Name | Max Sr. |
| Mother’s Name | Katrinas Christie |
| Siblings | One Brother (Cameron Christie) |
| Nationality | American |
| Relationship Status | Dating |
| Girlfriend | Sydney Parrish |
| Children | Not Yet |
| Built | Athletic |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in/1.96 m/196 cm |
| Weight | 85 kg/187 lbs |
| Ethnicity | Afro-American |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Profession | NBA Player |
| Education | Rolling Meadows High School, Michigan State University |
| NBA Draft | Los Angeles Lakers: 2022/Round 2/Pick: 35th Overall |
| Awards & Achievements | McDonald’s All-American (2021) |
| Association | Los Angeles Lakers, South Bay Lakers |
| Position | Shooting Guard |
| Shirt Number | 10 |
| Net Worth | $500k |
| Salary | $1.36 Million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Last Update | March 2024 |
Early Life & Education
Max Christie was born on February 10, 2003, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States, to his parents, Max Sr. and Katrinas Christie.
His father is an aircraft pilot who played basketball at Parkland College and Wisconsin–Superior before changing his career trajectory.
Likewise, mother Katrinas played basketball at Northwestern, scoring more than 1,000 points. She is a practicing psychologist as of this writing.
Max grew up with his younger brother Cameron Christie who is enjoying the ride in his senior season at Rolling Meadows High School.
Cameron is making his own mark along the way, following in his older brother’s footsteps.
Having Max’s brother do good at Rolling Meadows has made this pretty fun stretch for Katovich, head coach.
Education
Max attended Meadows High School and was teammates with his younger brother, Cameron.
He averaged 20 points as a freshman and 25.5 points as a sophomore. In a game against Elk Grover High School, Max scored a career-high 51 points drawing the attention of the recruits.
Similarly, he maintained 25 points average in his junior season and 24.0 points in his senior season.
His stellar performance during high school earned him Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year and Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year honors.
The five-star recruit in the 2021 class committed to playing college basketball for Michigan despite getting offers from Ohio, Duke, and Villanova.
He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team as a freshman. He declared for the 2022 NBA Draft on April 1, 2022, maintaining his college eligibility.
Career
Max Christie was drafted 35th overall in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.
He joined the Lakers roster for the 2022 NBA Summer League scoring 5 points and nine rebounds in a 100-66 win against the Miami Heat.
Christie signed a two years rookie contract with the team on July 8, 2022.
After their victory over the Grizzlies on 7th March 2023, the Lakers assigned Christie to their NBA G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, the following day.
Does Max Christie Look Like The Late Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant?
The Lakers rookie Christie became viral on social media in 2022 when one of the fans noticed that he shares some similarities in his lower facial expressions to the late Kobe Bryant.
It turns out many of Lakers fans feel Max looks identical to Bryant, at least from the face down.
This might be a little harsh on Lakers fans, but the comparison was made in a video where Christie criticized Bryant, unintentionally claiming that Kobe was not his favorite NBA player growing up.
He also pointed out he respected Kobe simply because everyone else did.
At this point in the interview, everyone saw the eerie similarities between the two.
Fans instantly started bombarding the comment section, saying he looked just like Black Mamba. Some even went far enough to call Max the incarnation of Kobe Bryant.
Others pointed out that his mannerisms and body language were identical to Bryant’s.
Awards & Honors
Even since his high school days, Max Christie has been recognized for his hooping skills and determination that he carried.
Following are some of the few awards honors of Christie.
- McDonald’s All-American (2021)
- Jordan Brand Classic (2021)
- Nike Hoop Summit (2021)
- Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2022)
Net Worth & Contract
Based on his career earnings, Max Christie’s net worth as of March 2024 is assumed to be around $500k.
He is yet to make it big in the league, but we are sure, given his talent and skills, he will soon be cashing out big bucks from the league.
According to Spotrac, Max’s NBA earnings so far sit at $1,017,781, and by the time his ongoing two-year deal concludes, he will have made $2,737,645.
Contracts
The Lakers rookie Max Christie signed a 2-year $2.74 million contract with Los Angeles Lakers on July 8, 2022.
The contract includes $2,737,645 guaranteed and an annual average salary of $1,368,823.
In 2022-23, Max will earn a base salary of $1,017,781 and $1,719,864 the following season.
Relationships & Girlfriend
As of this writing, Christie is in a relationship with a beautiful girl named Sydney Parrish.
Sydney herself is an outstanding basketball player playing for Indiana Hoosiers, which makes them a perfect couple.
She was selected for the Jordan Brand Classics and McDonald’s All-American. Likewise, she was crowned the 2020 Indiana Miss Basketball.
The duo made their romance public on June 20, 2022, via Instagram. On July 25, 2022, Max uploaded a picture with Sydney with the caption “Summer Vibes,” to which she commented, “luv uuu💜💜. “
Unknown Facts About Max Christie
- Max represented the United States at the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Brazil. He helped his team win the gold medal with 9.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
- Christie was selected News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year during high school.
- After declaring for NBA Draft, he also announced that he would hire an agent and remain in the draft on May 16, 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Is Max Christie related to Doug Christie?
Max Christie is not related to Dough Christie in any way.
How much did Max Christie average in college?
Christie averaged 9.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game during his time at Michigan State.
Where does Max Christie's girlfriend play?
Sydney Parrish initially played for the Oregon Ducks but after her sophomore year she transferred to Indiana Hoosiers.
