{"id":115823,"date":"2025-01-03T10:38:45","date_gmt":"2025-01-03T15:38:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=115823"},"modified":"2025-01-03T10:38:45","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T15:38:45","slug":"lebron-james-los-angeles-lakers-believe-max-christie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/03\/lebron-james-los-angeles-lakers-believe-max-christie\/","title":{"rendered":"LeBron James, Lakers ‘Believe In’ This Breakout Player"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over two months into the season, the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> are primed for a playoff appearance once again. They are 19-14 and own the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. Much of their success has to do with the performances of LeBron James<\/a> and Anthony Davis<\/a>. However, there have also been other players on the team who have stepped up at different points in the season. This was especially true during the team’s 114-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers<\/a> on Thursday night. Despite being without Davis, the Lakers took home the victory. In addition to James’ 38 points, the Lakers got a career performance out of third-year guard Max Christie<\/a>, who earned praise from the four-time champion after the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s putting in the work and it\u2019s paying off for him and [we] got coaches who believe in him,\u201d James said of Christie<\/a>. \u201cWe believe in him, and he was spectacular tonight on both ends of the floor.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Christie scored a career-high 28 points on 9-for-16 shooting in the win against the Trail Blazers. Prior to this game, the Illinois native had never scored more than 20 points in a game. Additionally, Christie recorded three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.
\n