University athletics run in the family for Jacob Christie

For many families, having a child play a university sport is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. For Jacob Christie, the fifth in his family to play in the Atlantic University Sport league, it’s just another season. 

The Christie family didn’t just have a cup of coffee in the conference either — together the Fredericton natives brought home a combined seven Atlantic championships at three different schools.

Back when the conference was called the Atlantic Universities Athletic Association, Laura Swift Christie, Jacob’s mother, won four conference championships in women’s basketball and was named league MVP for the 1993-94 season. Kevin, her husband, played volleyball for St. Francis Xavier University. Together, they have two sons and a daughter. 

Ella Christie, the couple’s second-born, won an AUS championship in 2024 with Acadia University’s women’s volleyball team, while their two boys decided to play basketball for Dalhousie University. 

Malcolm, the eldest, plays basketball wearing a six on his jersey like his mother did — and has an athletic resumé to rival hers. In his junior year, he won league MVP, set the Tigers record for most points in a game (51) and made the most three-pointers in a season in AUS history (79). He also won two AUS titles for Dal in three seasons before leaving to play in the NCAA for Oakland University. Now, he’s entering his fifth year at Oregon State University.

Jacob looked up to his older brother, and the two always supported each other. 

“He’s like a friend and a brother all in one,” he said.

With five university athletes in a backyard and one lowly basketball net, things got competitive. 

Malcolm remembers one time he tried to get out of chores by challenging his mother to a game of one-on-one.

“She smoked me,” he says. “We never played again, and I did my chores forever.”

Both Jacob and Malcolm say their mother didn’t force basketball on them; their father, who coached them for eight years, pushed it the most.

“I think basketball was kind of inevitable for everyone in my family,” Malcolm says. “Even my sister, she played volleyball, but we all started with basketball. That’s in large part because of mom and my dad.”

As kids, the brothers spent hours shooting hoops. With a four-year age difference, Malcolm dominated, while Jacob would storm off the court to “tell mom.”

“I was never a gracious loser,” Jacob said. He would flee the court crying, and sometimes fists were thrown.  

These days, it’s a tighter match when Malcolm comes home from university. 

“This summer we’re playing, and it’s like, ‘Oh my god, I have to go 100 per cent to try to beat this guy,’” Malcolm says. “He’s really good now. It’s now me who’s upset when we play.”

While Ella wanted her younger brother to be an Axeman, Malcolm convinced Jacob to play for Dal. Now, it’s Jacob’s turn to don the number six at the same school his brother broke records at. 

Last but not least 

With the same jumpshot, jersey number, curls and rosy face, the youngest member of the Christie clan looks eerily similar to Malcolm. But, Dalhousie men’s basketball head coach Rick Plato sees a difference in Jacob — his ability to run the point as a six-foot-five wing.  

Malcolm, who’s the same height as Jacob, didn’t have to worry about that. His then-roommate, Dal alum Sam Maillet, ran the point for the Tigers. 

Jacob’s versatility gives Plato more options heading into the 2025–26 season. 

“He’s responded well,” Plato says. “And handled the responsibilities in a very solid way.”

Jacob said his ability to be a big point guard came because he was never the tallest growing up. He was always the shorter brother, throwing lobs to Malcolm.

“My favourite players growing up were all point guards,” Jacob says. “So I just wanted to be a point guard.”

Plato says the brothers’ success comes from their parents’ encouragement and support. The Christies were a common sight at Dal when Malcolm played there, and that didn’t stop when he moved south of the border. 

“They went to a ton of the games,” Plato says. “I know their grandmother and grandfather too, and they’re very supportive.”

While Plato doesn’t want to compare the two, Jacob has embraced the comparison.

“I don’t really care if I get compared to him, because he’s my brother. I love him. I’m always rooting for him. He was amazing here.”