A return to the NBA is not out of the question for Josh Christopher, as he was named NBA 2K25 Summer League Championship Game MVP after leading the Miami Heat past the Memphis Grizzlies in a 120-118 win on Monday.
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The former first-round pick had 24 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two blocks while shooting 9-for-17 from the field. He also went 6-of-10 from three-point range, including the game-tying triple late to help set up the game-winning basket from Pelle Larsson.
“I mean this is cool, but honestly like we couldn’t do this if it wasn’t for y’all at all bro,” Christopher said after winning the NBA 2K25 Summer League Championship Game MVP. “We been grinding from the start of the season. I got waived at the beginning of the year, found my way to Sioux Falls with these guys and now we winning.”
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Christopher has been arguably the best player for the Miami Heat over the final few games of the Summer League. Before his all-around performance against the Memphis Grizzlies, he had a team-high 23 points, including 13 points in the final period, against the Golden State Warriors in the 102-99 comeback victory.
Josh Christopher’s NBA journey has been far from smooth
Josh Christopher came to the league in 2021 when the Houston Rockets drafted him with the No. 24 pick. In his rookie season, the former Arizona State standout showed some promise, averaging 7.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per contest.
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However, after falling out of the rotation in the 2022-23 season, the Houston Rockets sent Josh Christopher to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Dillon Brooks deal. The Memphis Grizzlies waived Josh Christopher (also waived by the Utah Jazz), and the 22-year-old guard eventually found his way to the Miami Heat via a two-way contract.
After a strong Summer League campaign, Josh Christopher will hope to find his way into the Miami Heat’s rotation next season which already has the likes of Terry Rozier, Alec Burks, Josh Richardson, Duncan Robinson, and Tyler Herro.
