Michigan State’s Max Christie on why he’s staying in NBA draft

Max Christie did not enter his freshman season at Michigan State basketball with the expectation that he can be a one-and-done. However after the Spartans’ loss to Duke within the second spherical of the NCAA match, Christie realized he was prepared. 

The chance to show himself within the NBA outweighed his need to return to East Lansing and construct on a promising, but inconsistent inaugural season. Christie signed with an agent and forfeited his faculty eligibility on Monday. His hope is {that a} noteworthy displaying on this week’s NBA draft mix, simply miles from his hometown of Arlington Heights, Illinois,  along with robust staff interviews and particular person exercises, will safe his place within the June 23 draft. 

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“I feel it’s simply betting on myself and being assured in myself and the preparation that I put into this recreation,” Christie informed reporters on the mix on Thursday. “I feel that’s all it truly is, simply having confidence in myself and realizing I really feel like I’m prepared for this degree and am capable of contribute.” 

Christie, a 6-foot-6 wing, began all however one  recreation for MSU final season and averaged of Michigan State’s common season video games as a freshman and averaged 9.3 factors and three.5 rebounds. The 2021 five-star recruit was a gifted shooter in highschool, however his 3-point stroke wasn’t as dependable in faculty, capturing simply 38.2% general and 31.7% from the 3-point line. 

Outdoors capturing continues to be the side of the sport he is most assured in, he mentioned. However he is conscious groups can have issues about why it did not translate in faculty. Christie is not involved that he’ll wrestle to shoot within the NBA, but it surely’ll be thought-about a query mark till he proves in any other case. 

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“I feel it was simply the transition for me, to be sincere,” Christie mentioned. “The transition from highschool to the faculty recreation. For me, it took just a little bit longer than I anticipated, took longer than most individuals. That’s simply the way in which the domino’s fell. I’m not frightened about it. I’m nonetheless assured in myself and my potential to shoot.

“It could not have been mirrored this previous 12 months however I feel I do know and I feel everybody is aware of I’m a greater shooter than what I produced. Not likely frightened concerning the numbers that have been produced. I’m a greater shooter and I’ll shoot it higher within the NBA.” 

Whereas Christie struggled to shoot, Tom Izzo was an enormous fan of his defensive effort. Christie was commonly matched up in opposition to the opposite staff’s finest guard or ahead, and he held his personal in lots of matchups. Including extra muscle and weight to his lanky 190-pound body is an offseason focus for him. 

Izzo has been publicly supportive of Christie’s determination to go away Michigan State, regardless that his departure hurts his roster within the brief time period. All three of the Spartans’ main scorers final season — Christie and seniors Gabe Brown and Marcus Bingham Jr — are turning professional. Christie seemingly would’ve seized a bigger share of the offense had he returned. 

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“Coach Izzo’s been nothing however supportive and he’s held me to a excessive commonplace, which is what I requested for,” Christie mentioned. “He’s carried out every part I’ve requested and he’s carried out a fantastic job simply dwelling as much as who he’s, the nice coach he’s and the nice individual he’s. My relationship with him is nice for positive.” 

Christie mentioned his draft vary is between 20 and 40, however his greatest need is to land with a staff that is prepared to be affected person and develop him. He has talked to a number of Spartans presently within the NBA — Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes, Draymond Inexperienced and Gary Harris — concerning the draft course of. Declaring after one season of school could be a little bit of a raffle for Christie, however he understands that his is step one of an extended course of to take pleasure in a steady skilled profession. 

“One factor that, for me, goes to be useful goes to be time,” Christie mentioned. “I’m solely 19 years previous and I feel being in an NBA system for a couple of years is admittedly going to assist me develop and enhance over time. A staff that’s prepared to try this, the assets which have been applied and the issues which have been carried out lately promotes that for me.” 

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Comply with him on Twitter @omarisankofa.