On January 5th, Beijing time, as the NBA regular season progresses, the Western Conference standings have undergone another dramatic change. The Thunder remains at the top with a 14-game winning streak, followed closely by the Rockets and Grizzlies. The Nuggets, Lakers, and Mavericks, despite an unfavorable start to the season, have managed to catch up with the championship contenders in the middle of the season. In contrast, the three teams that were considered favorites for the championship at the beginning of the season - the Spurs, Timberwolves, and Suns - have completely fallen behind.
Among them, the Lakers, who are not favored among the championship contenders, have made almost no meaningful reinforcements during the offseason. Even though Davis explicitly stated that he hoped Pelinka would sign a big man center, all they ended up with was Crocker, who suffered from thrombosis and was insured last season. In addition, amidst widespread doubts, Pelinka signed rookie Christie to a $32 million mid-level contract, claiming that he would be an indispensable force on the Lakers' championship journey in the new season.
However, as the 2024-25 season officially began, Christie's performance at the start of the season was not ideal. As the starting shooting guard for the second unit, his average score struggled to even reach double digits, and his absurdly low three-point shooting percentage once made Redick "question life." What exactly did the management see in him? How did this player manage to get a $32 million contract and re-sign with the Lakers?
It is worth noting that just when the outside world was questioning whether Pelinka was ruining the Lakers and wasting the last of James' prime, Christie finally got the chance to prove himself. With Russell's departure, Redick readjusted the lineup and promoted Christie to the starting position.
Originally thought to be a desperate move by the Lakers, it turned out that with increased time and opportunities, Christie delivered unexpectedly impressive performances on the road to the Lakers' pursuit of the top four in the West. Christie scored 17 points against the Pistons, 16 points against the Warriors, 16 points against the Kings, 5 points against the Cavaliers, 28 points against the Trail Blazers, and 9 points against the Hawks, averaging 15 points in six games with a three-point shooting percentage close to 50%.
From being questioned for signing back a benchwarmer for $32 million to now unbelievably wondering how the Lakers managed to acquire this top shooter, Christie only needed six games to turn things around. He also successfully cleared Pelinka's name, causing Lakers fans to marvel that Pelinka truly is a "god in the bargain market," and this incredible move is unmatched. It seems that those who resemble Kobe in appearance certainly don't lack in ability. And after waiting for years, James finally has his own "Thompson," with the new backcourt duo of Christie and Reeves. James no longer has to worry about a lack of scoring vitality, and contending for the championship is just a matter of time.