‘In Elite Shape’: Max Christie Impressing Dallas Mavericks With Conditioning, Confidence And Growth
Max Christie entered training camp looking more polished, more vocal, and more physically prepared than at any point in his young career. After averaging 11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 32 games for Dallas last season, the 22-year-old guard spent the summer focused on sharpening his conditioning and expanding his responsibilities within Jason Kidd’s faster, more balanced system.
That work showed in the Mavericks’ 106-89 preseason win over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Christie scored 12 points in 15 minutes, playing with energy on both ends while helping set the team’s pace.
Kidd said his improvement has been obvious since the first day of camp, pointing to his movement, aggression, and confidence.
“Christie’s in shape and ready to go,” Kidd said. “I thought his cutting and his aggressiveness in the second half stood out. He got to the free-throw line, and that’s the most important shot for us. His pace was great, his defense was really good, and it’s good to see he’s ready to go.”
Conditioning is Key To Max Christie’s Growth
The version of Christie that showed up to Mavericks training camp wasn’t just stronger — he was steadier. Teammates and coaches noticed it right away. The bursts of speed, the sharper footwork, even the poise after long drills all pointed to an offseason defined by commitment.
Christie said those changes didn’t happen overnight. They were the product of months of steady work, built around endurance, focus, and a daily challenge to play through fatigue. He called it the most important summer of his career.
“I knew the offseason was going to be important — I think every offseason is the biggest one of your career,” he said. “For me, I took it very seriously and tried to get better in every area. I feel good off the ball, but I wanted to take a leap with my on-ball stuff — playmaking, creating, and pushing the pace.”
He said that approach required an emphasis on fitness that would allow him to keep pressure on the ball defensively while sustaining pace offensively.
“Being in shape is always key, especially for me, where I want to be a top defender but also be able to cut and shoot threes,” Christie said. “You have to be in elite shape to do that. Picking up full court, running the floor, getting easy layups, and being in shape to shoot threes when you’re tired — those were all focuses for me this summer.”
The results have been evident. Christie said he feels lighter on his feet and more decisive when reacting in-game situations.
“You just move differently when you’re in shape,” he said. “It lets you read the game faster and react without thinking about energy. That’s how I wanted to come into camp.”
Kidd said Christie’s conditioning has made him one of the team’s tone-setters.
“He’s in elite shape,” Kidd said. “You can see it every day. He’s competing, leading with his effort, and that’s contagious. That’s what we need from him.”
Thriving In A Faster System
Kidd’s new offensive structure has emphasized movement, tempo, and shared creation. The Mavericks are no longer leaning on one or two players to generate every possession, and that shift has created space for Christie to excel.
“This is a different roster than I’ve had in the past,” Kidd said. “You saw that tonight — the pace was high, multiple guys touched the ball. In the past, I’ve played to the strengths of the players I’ve had, but this team is different. To be big and play with this kind of pace — hopefully that’s to our advantage.”
Christie’s adjustment to the Mavericks’ faster pace has been seamless. His timing with D’Angelo Russell has stood out in particular — the two have developed a feel for each other in transition, linking plays with quick outlets and sharp cuts that keep defenses scrambling.
“The biggest thing for me was cutting,” Christie said. “I think D-Lo and I have a really good connection in transition, especially when I’m cutting. Even when I do have the ball, I’m always looking to be aggressive.”
Christie said Kidd has challenged him to use his frame to his advantage — to play through contact, initiate drives, and seek out the rim rather than settling for jumpers. That emphasis on physicality, he said, has helped him stay aggressive even when shots aren’t falling.
“When I push the pace, I’m trying to find seams and attack,” Christie said. “Getting to the line is important — the free throw is the most efficient shot in the NBA because nobody’s guarding you. The more I can get to the line, the better, especially as a shooter. Seeing the ball go through the net early helps, and being a constant threat — whether it’s cutting or attacking — puts pressure on defenses.”
The Mavericks hope that willingness to attack early will keep defenses off balance and open more opportunities for others. Christie said the new offense has already created a noticeable energy among teammates.
“It’s fun to play when everyone touches it,” he said. “You can feel the energy move when the ball moves.”
Defense Setting The Tone
While Dallas has made stylistic changes offensively, Christie said the team’s true identity is taking shape on defense. The combination of Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Dwight Powell protecting the paint allows perimeter defenders to play more aggressively — something Christie believes can turn stops into transition opportunities.
“Defensively, it makes our lives a lot easier for sure,” he said. “When everybody’s healthy, we’ve got AD, Gaff, Lively, and DP — all big bodies and some of the best shot blockers in the NBA. It gives you a lot of freedom to be a lot more aggressive on the perimeter.”
That belief in their defensive foundation has quietly raised expectations inside the locker room. Players have begun to talk less about potential and more about accountability — a shift Christie said is rooted in trust and chemistry built over the past few weeks.
“We set a goal to be one of the best defensive teams in the league,” Christie said. “Top three, top two, top one would be ideal. Starts with us guards for sure, but knowing that we got a little bit of help behind us makes it a lot easier.”
Kidd said the team’s cohesion and defensive focus have already surpassed where they were a season ago, crediting communication and buy-in as the difference. He described this group as “connected,” with players holding each other accountable in ways that translate directly to their play..
“This is a different team than last year — there’s no comparison,” he said. “The energy is extremely high, the ball’s moving, and we’re not just relying on AD. We’ve got other guys — Klay, D-Lo — who can score. We’ve got to get better in the second half, but fatigue set in — that’s natural. Now we need to learn how to play through that.”
Christie said the Mavericks’ mix of rim protection and perimeter defense gives them the versatility to defend multiple styles.
“We definitely have the personnel to do it,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of size and shot blocking at the rim, and if we can pressure the ball and create deflections and steals on the perimeter, that’ll fuel our offense. Offensively, we’ve got a ton of firepower — Klay’s one of the best shooters ever, D-Lo’s a great facilitator, AD is AD, and Cooper’s going to give us a spark. We’ve got guys who are strong on both ends, and if we can create turnovers and turn them into easy baskets, we’ll win a lot of games.”
Earning Respect In The Locker Room
Christie’s maturity and focus have resonated throughout the locker room. Kidd has called him one of the group’s most consistent voices in camp, while teammates have praised his competitiveness and conditioning.
Naji Marshall said it didn’t take long to see the results of Christie’s offseason. From the first practice, he said, Christie’s conditioning, pace, and confidence were impossible to miss — the look of a player who’d turned preparation into a habit.
“Max had a really good summer, bro, and that showed last night,” Marshall said. “He’s in great shape, hitting shots. I think he’s going to have a great season because of that. I’m looking forward to playing with him.”
For Christie, the preseason opener wasn’t about proving anything new — just reinforcing habits built over the summer.
“It’s the first game, so the main thing was just getting some game film,” he said. “Everyone came out healthy, which is huge. Getting a win like that tonight is great for our confidence. It’s a great start, and we’ll just keep building from here.”
The Mavericks return to action on Saturday when they host the Charlotte Hornets at the American Airlines Center.
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