The Los Angeles Lakers have found their latest diamond in the rough. Selected at No. 17 overall in a critically panned 2024 NBA Draft, Dalton Knecht is a 23-year-old incoming rookie who plumetted out of the top 10 due to concerns over his age.
Less than four months later, Knecht is already showing rival executives how foolish they were to write him off on draft night—and applying a necessary dose of pressure to the Lakers' starters.
Knecht is one of the most compelling incoming rookies in 2024-25. A sharpshooting wing with three-level scoring ability and prototypical size, length, and athleticism, the former Tennessee Volunteers star looks the part of the perfect fit for the modern era.
It's only preseason, but Knecht is already proving that his attributes translate well enough to meet the NBA standard—and it only scratches the surface of what he's capable of.
Knecht has adapted well to a lower usage rate than he produced as the go-to scorer for the Volunteers in college. He's also displayed the energy on defense that head coach JJ Redick will require of him if a consistent role in the rotation is to be attained.
The bigger picture reveals a truth that's even more compelling than early signs of progress: If Knecht continues to develop and perform at the level he is, he could hold the starters to a higher standard.
Dalton Knecht showing signs of becoming a high-level NBA player
Knecht began the preseason by scoring 16 points in 25 minutes, finding the bottom of the net in almost every way imaginable. He curled off of screens, pulled up from midrange, finished in transition, threw down a two-hand dunk, and established his catch-and-shoot proficiency.
It was a well-rounded display that epitomizes the understated truth about Knecht's NBA upside: He's far more than a spot-up shooter, but it certainly doesn't hurt that he has an elite skill to fall back on.
Everyone loves upside, especially in an NBA that will seemingly pay up-and-coming players regardless of their immediate value. One of the primary issues franchises encounter when developing talent, however, is that prospects selected based solely on potential rarely have a go-to skill to rely on.
Knecht, who shot 39.7 percent from beyond the arc in 2023-24, has no such problem. Redick, one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, has gone as far as to say that the rookie ranks in the top one percent of shooters.
It's a hard-earned luxury that most rookies can't rely on. Knecht, however, supplements his three-level scoring potential with tremendous catch-and-shoot proficiency, which is undoubtedly assisted by his prototypical size, athleticism, and release point.
The depth of his scoring arsenal will inevitably take time to manifest as he adjusts to the pace and structure of the NBA game, but his three-point shot and general intensity are the ultimate fail-safe.
Knecht is already lunging at loose balls, crashing the offensive glass without fear, and competing on defense when he's challenged. He'll need to develop the optimal level of consistency in those regards, but the fact that he's showing signs of promise is noteworthy.
It's too soon to make any definitive statements about Knecht, but at the rate he's playing, the rotation isn't the only group he'll join. He could begin holding the starters accountable sooner than later.