Even before the event was formally held, the 2024 NBA Draft was regarded by most as having one of the weakest classes in recent memory. Rather than allowing that reputation to dissuade them from finding a promising talent, the Los Angeles Lakers capitalized on the Association's general disregard for the opportunities that awaited them.
A case could be made that the biggest casualty of rival general managers' blatant dismissal of the talent that existed in the 2024 NBA Draft was Dalton Knecht.
On paper, Knecht is everything that teams want from a modern wing. He has prototypical size, strength, and length for a perimeter player, as well as the speed, agility, and leaping ability to rival just about any NBA player at his position.
Knecht proved as much by posting a 39.0" max vertical leap and ranking No. 1 in the shuttle run, No. 2 in the lane agility drill, and No. 12 in the three-quarter sprint at the 2024 NBA Draft Combine.
In addition to being the physical prototype for an NBA wing, Knecht has the track record and fundamentals to become an elite three-point shooter. Lakers head coach JJ Redick has gone as far as to say that the rookie ranks in the top one percent of players from a pure shooting perspective.
Compounded by the three-level scoring ability that gives Knecht the tools to thrive beyond the confines of being a role player, the one and only reason he fell to No. 17 became abundantly clear.
No one wanted to spend a lottery pick on a 23-year-old rookie—even if he's talented enough to set the pace for his class.
Dalton Knecht breaks the rookie drought, confirms Lakers have an impact player
Among rookies who have played at least 25 minutes, Knecht ranks No. 3 in points per 36 minutes at 17.8—trailing only Zach Edey and Ryan Dunn. With that same criteria set, only Dunn is converting more three-point field goals per 36 minutes than Knecht.
Even if one chooses not to extrapolate the data to a measurement of per 36 minutes, Knecht is actively leading by example among rookie players.
Entering Oct. 30, no rookie had scored at least 15 points in a game. It's a startling fact that seemed to support the belief that the current crop of first-year players is so far beneath the standard set by previous classes that no team made out with an impact player.
With an 18-point performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Knecht put an end to that dry spell and became the first 2024-25 rookie to eclipse 15 points in a single game.
Lakers wing Dalton Knecht becomes first rookie this season to score 15 in a game. Wrote about the drought here 👇 https://t.co/94cPaLI2gm
— Mr. Statistician Face Man (@tomhaberstroh) October 31, 2024
It was the latest in a growing line of performances that have established Knecht as an impact player. He scored 10 points just four days prior, burying several key shots during a 133-127 victory over the Sacramento Kings, during which the rookie wing produced a plus-minus of plus-16 in just 20 minutes.
The 23-year-old will struggle at times, as all rookies do, but his athleticism, shooting ability, and creativity in isolation are already on display early in 2024-25.
It's also worth noting that Knecht has scored in double-figures in each of the two games during which he played at least 20 minutes. Beyond the numbers, he's been fearless in his approach to scoring and consistent with his effort and intensity.
Patience is a virtue with every rookie as they adjust to the pace and talent level of the NBA, but Knecht continues to prove that the Lakers struck gold when others believed there was none to find.