In a season full of surprises for the Los Angeles Lakers, none has been more electrifying than the emergence of rookie Dalton Knecht. The 17th overall pick has transformed from a questionable draft choice to an essential piece of the Lakers’ rotation, proving that sometimes the best stories in basketball come from unexpected places.
Tuesday night’s game against the Utah Jazz showcased exactly what makes Knecht special. The rookie sharpshooter lit up the scoreboard with 12 first-half points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting, including a sizzling 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. His impact went beyond just scoring, as the Lakers outscored their opponents by 18 points during his 17 minutes on the floor.
However, Knecht’s performance was not fleeting. Over his last three games, Knecht has averaged an impressive 20.0 points while shooting at otherworldly splits of 64% from the field, 63% from three-point range, and a perfect 100% from the free-throw line.
“He’s getting comfortable,” notes teammate JJ Redick. “When you’re a high-level shooter, getting more extended runs and more minutes, you’re naturally just going to be more in the flow of the game.”
What makes Knecht’s success particularly noteworthy is how he overcame early struggles. During his initial ten games, Knecht’s three-point shooting performance was only 31%, a significant contrast to his exceptional shooting record at Tennessee. But rather than let these challenges derail him, Knecht kept his head down and trusted his process.
The rookie’s impact has caught the attention of the Lakers’ biggest stars. Anthony Davis can barely contain his excitement when discussing his young teammate: “Anytime he shoots the ball, I think it’s going in. That’s why we get so frustrated and upset when he doesn’t shoot. He’s a fantastic player. He can defend, he can shoot, he can put it on the floor, he can pass—he can do it all.”
Perhaps most telling is the relationship Knecht has built with guard Austin Reaves, who revealed he had been following the rookie’s career since his college days. “I just randomly one day saw him going crazy doing what he did in college,” Reaves shared. “The way he willed his Tennessee team to a lot of wins was special.”
The statistics confirm what is evident. When Knecht is on the floor, the Lakers’ offense soars to new heights, posting an offensive rating of 126.2—a figure that would lead the NBA. The team is +9.4 points better with him in the game, highlighting his ability to impact winning beyond just scoring.
What sets Knecht apart isn’t just his shooting—though his 60.6% conversion rate on two-point field goals ranks in the 91st percentile among wings. It’s his complete offensive package. Whether he’s cutting to the basket (where he finishes 78% of his attempts at the rim), pulling up against bigger defenders, or moving without the ball, Knecht has shown he’s far more than just a spot-up shooter.
“I think every time I shoot the ball, I think it’s a great shot,” Knecht says, embodying the confidence that has helped him weather the NBA’s learning curve. As the Lakers continue their pursuit of championship contention, they appear to have found something special in their rookie shooter.
In a league where spacing and scoring are at a premium, Knecht’s emergence might be exactly what the Lakers needed—even if they didn’t know it when they made that 17th pick. One thing is certain: Dalton Knecht, the Lakers’ newest marksman, isn’t just shooting for the stars—he’s hitting nothing but net.