3 Los Angeles Lakers players we're thankful for on Thanksgiving Day

The Los Angeles Lakers have gifted fans with a surplus of moments and players that rank among the greatest in NBA history. With 17 championships, eight MVP awards, and a surplus of Hall of Famers, the Lakers have helped set the standard for the Association.

As Thanksgiving Day rolls around, it thus becomes important for fans to remind those who define the modern era of Lakerland of how thankful we are for them.

Los Angeles enters Thanksgiving Day in the midst of an intriguing first season under head coach JJ Redick. Redick has taken steps to modernize the Lakers' offense and commit to a new path for the future, prioritizing Anthony Davis as the franchise player.

As such, the first individual that Lakers fans should be thankful for on Thanksgiving is Redick himself—a coach who has committed fully to the job and changed the culture in short order.

As the Lakers navigate the rest of the 2024-25 season, however, it'll be crucial to remind ourselves of who Redick is trusting to set the tone. Some players represent the present-day effort to thrive, while others embody the long-awaited shift in priorities toward a long-term vision.

The latter all begins with the first player to be grateful for on Thanksgiving: Dalton Knecht, who embodies a future the Lakers haven't been able to look forward to in quite some time.

3. Dalton Knecht

It's been several years since a Lakers rookie stole headlines in the way Knecht has been able to. That's due in large part to the fact that Los Angeles has traded away first-round draft picks as though they hold no value beyond being tools to acquire starting-caliber players on short-term contracts.

Knecht has helped buck the trend with a start to the 2024-25 regular season that has Lakers fans clamoring over what he could become.

Knecht started the season out strong, but received limited playing time along the way. That all changed on Nov. 13, when the rookie caught fire and tallied 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting during a 128-123 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Knecht then posted 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting in a 120-115 victory against the San Antonio Spurs before becoming the player who all Lakers fans are thankful for.

Knecht threw his name directly into the mix for Rookie of the Year by tallying 27 points against the New Orleans Pelicans and 37 in a 124-118 win over the Utah Jazz. It was a remarkable example of how gifted he is as a scorer, as well as how promising his untapped potential remains.

For the first time since they featured the likes of Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, the Lakers appear to have a first-round draft pick they can build with moving forward. That's something to be thankful for.

2. LeBron James

The Lakers' return to prominence began the moment LeBron James arrived in Los Angeles. It was a difficult path to travel, including a 2018-19 season during which the purple and gold won just 37 games, but the high points have been extraordinary.

Davis may be the new franchise player and offensive focal point, but Lakers fans should be forever grateful for what James has provided them with.

James' claim to Lakers fame will eternally be the championship that he and Davis led the team to in 2019-20. It was the franchise's first title since 2009-10, as well as its first postseason appearance since 2012-13.

The legend commonly known as King James finished the 2019-20 campaign with averages of 25.3 points, 10.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.2 three-point field goals made per game.

Injuries and general questions about the structure of the roster have defined portions of James' tenure, but the success he's led Los Angeles to has been undeniable. In addition to the title, the team reached a second Conference Finals and has made four postseason appearances.

Considering the Lakers have made four postseason appearances in six completed seasons with James, and failed to reach the playoffs in any of the five years before he arrived, that's reason to be thankful.

1. Anthony Davis

The franchise player. Davis has epitomized two-way brilliance throughout his tenure with the Lakers, which has played a significant part in the team's success as NBA champions and two-time Conference Finalists since his arrival.

The ultimate perspective on how valuable Davis has been to the Lakers: Los Angeles had missed the playoffs in each of the six seasons before trading for the five-time All-NBA honoree.

Since acquiring Davis, the Lakers have made four postseason appearances in five completed seasons. During the championship season in 2019-20, he led the team in scoring during both the regular season and the playoffs.

Davis also provided stifling defense that helped the team overcome Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, and Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat.

During the championship run, Davis closed out the Portland Trail Blazers with 43 points, and led all players during the postseason in win shares. Fast forward to 2024-25, and Davis is playing at an MVP-caliber level as he looks to deliver yet another memorable campaign.

There are many reasons to be thankful for the Lakers, but few players have epitomized the standard of excellence on the court quite like Davis.