Christie enters the season as Dallas' projected starting shooting guard with more responsibility on both ends of the floor.
Every team has a player whose performance could swing the season in either direction. For the Dallas Mavericks, that player is Max Christie.
In its early 2026-27 season preview, ESPN named Christie Dallas' biggest X-factor, pointing to the importance of his shooting and perimeter defense.
"Christie seems ready for a bigger role on a winning team, after scoring a career-high 12.3 PPG last season while making 40% of his 3-pointers," ESPN's Zach Kram wrote. "But he isn't yet a proven perimeter stopper, and Dallas will need him to fill that role with Kyrie Irving as his backcourt partner. More broadly, Christie is arguably the only traditional shooting guard on the Mavericks' frontcourt-heavy roster. If he doesn't take another step forward in his age-23 season, Dallas could be in trouble on the perimeter."
The assessment captures both the opportunity and the pressure facing Christie. He is coming off the best season of his young career, setting personal highs with 12.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from 3-point range and 89.9 percent from the free-throw line. On a 26-win team, Christie was one of the few bright spots and finished third on the roster in total points.
Now he is expected to start at shooting guard alongside a returning Irving. That pairing is central to Christie's importance. As the only traditional shooting guard on a roster filled with forwards and bigs, he fills a positional need Dallas otherwise lacks. His shooting also gives Cooper Flagg and Irving more room to operate.
The defensive side presents the bigger test. Irving is returning from a torn ACL, and Christie figures to take on tougher perimeter assignments alongside him. Dallas needs Christie to become a reliable defender against opposing guards and wings. He has not established himself as that player yet.
Consistency also needs to improve. Christie's career-best numbers were stronger early in the season. Through the end of January, he averaged 13.2 points while shooting 44.2 percent from 3-point range. Over the rest of the season, those numbers fell to 11 points per game and 35.1 percent from 3-point range. Maintaining his early-season efficiency would change his value to Dallas.
The roster around him also gives Christie a better environment for efficient offense. Flagg and Irving will draw defensive attention and create opportunities for Christie to operate without the ball. More catch-and-shoot attempts and fewer responsibilities as a creator could help him produce more consistently.
Christie's future in Dallas is also tied to this season's performance. He is eligible for an extension this offseason, with this season and a player option for 2027-28 remaining on his contract. A strong season would strengthen his position for a significant payday. Proving he can start for a winning team while defending at a high level and shooting efficiently would give him a clear case for a larger role and contract.
The role is there. The opportunity is there. Now Christie has to show he can handle both sides of it. If he takes the next step, Dallas gets the two-way shooting guard its starting lineup needs. If he does not, the Mavericks could have a significant hole on the perimeter.
