It was an eventful night for Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht as he made his presence felt in the team’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. The former Tennessee standout, selected 17th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, came off the bench to provide a much-needed scoring spark for the Lakers.
Knecht Ignites Lakers In First-Half Performance
Knecht entered the game in the first quarter and immediately made an impact. The 6’8″ forward grabbed a couple of rebounds and dished out an assist before draining his first shot—a smooth three-pointer from the top of the key.
“Dalton just has that natural scoring ability,” observed Lakers head coach Darvin Ham. “When he checks into the game, you can see the offense run through him and the floor open up.” Knecht continued his hot shooting in the second quarter, knocking down another three-pointer and adding a mid-range jumper.
By the halftime buzzer, the rookie had compiled an impressive stat line: 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and a perfect 3-for-3 shooting performance, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. “I just tried to stay ready and take the shots when they were there,” said Knecht modestly after the game. “My teammates did a great job of finding me in good spots on the floor.”
Lakers Are Significantly Better With Knecht On The Court
Knecht’s impact goes beyond just his individual numbers. An in-depth look at the Lakers’ performance reveals that the team is significantly better when the rookie is on the floor. In the 10 games Knecht has played so far this season, the Lakers are outscoring opponents by 5.7 points per 100 possessions when he is in the game.
However, the team suffers a stunning swing of 10.7 points when Knecht is on the bench, outscoring them by 5.0 points per 100 possessions. “Dalton brings an element of spacing and scoring punch that really helps our offense,” explained veteran forward LeBron James. “He’s not afraid to let it fly from deep, and that opens things up for the rest of us to operate.”
The numbers back up James’ assessment. The Lakers post an impressive offensive rating of 121.5 with Knecht on the court, compared to just 112.1 when he sits—a 9.4-point difference. Even more impressive, the team’s defense is better with Knecht playing, posting a rating of 115.8 compared to 117.1 when he’s on the bench.
An Increased Role On The Horizon?
Given Knecht’s early-season impact, it seems likely that the Lakers will look to increase his playing time moving forward. The rookie’s combination of perimeter shooting, basketball IQ, and two-way contributions makes him a valuable piece in the team’s rotation.
“Dalton has shown he can come in and give us a real boost,” said Ham. “As he continues to get comfortable at this level, we’ll look for ways to get him more minutes and let him showcase his talents.”
With the Lakers searching for a consistent third scoring option behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Knecht’s emergence could not have come at a better time. If he can sustain this level of production, the rookie forward may soon find himself in the conversation for Rookie of the Year honors.
“I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help this team win,” Knecht said. “Whether that’s knocking down shots, playing defense, or doing the little things, I’m going to keep working hard and giving it my all.”
Dalton Knecht has emerged as a crucial component in the Lakers’ pursuit of a postseason berth. With his scoring touch, basketball IQ, and two-way impact, the rookie forward may be the key to unlocking the team’s full potential this season.
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