Exploded! Scored 93 points in four games! Thank you, Lakers!

Impressive, really solid.

Kristi has scored over 20 points in four straight games, with 22, 26, 21, and 24 points respectively, adding up to 93 points.

This season, Kristi has appeared in 42 games, starting 33, averaging 29.4 minutes on the court, producing 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 48.3%. He also averages 2.6 three-pointers per game at 45.5% accuracy, already being regarded as a key future member of the Mavericks.

Kristi’s current success owes a lot to last year’s trade deadline, when he was sent along with Davis from the Lakers to the Mavericks. Changing teams sparked his breakout performance.

Of course, before the trade, the Lakers valued Kristi quite a bit. They picked him in the second round, 5th pick, in the 2022 draft and offered him a four-year, $32 million contract extension in the summer of 2024. Keep in mind, he only averaged 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in the 23-24 season. Unfortunately, they had to let him go for the sake of Doncic.

Born on February 10, 2003, this 1.96m tall, 2.05m wingspan swingman initially gained viral attention for resembling the late Kobe Bryant. However, few expected him to make it big since he was a second-round pick. Thankfully, “everyone underestimated you, but you proved them wrong” — he has finally shown his worth through his performance.

Six years, six years.

Kristi’s current contract runs through the summer of 2028, with a salary of $7.71 million this season. The next two seasons combined pay $17.15 million, and he has a player option for the 27-28 season. If he maintains or improves his current form and stays healthy, he will soon secure a new contract worth at least a multi-million dollar annual salary.

The Mavericks currently stand 12th in the Western Conference with a 19-27 record, 2.5 games behind the 10th-ranked Clippers. There might be major moves before the trade deadline on February 6. Davis, Thompson, Gafford, and Russell are already on the trading block, while Kristi and other young players like Flagg can remain relaxed.