The Los Angeles Lakers have navigated the early stages of playing without Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves as well as anyone could've asked. Reserves have stepped up in their absence, with the likes of Shake Milton, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Gabe Vincent taking turns in the spotlight.
The constant during this trying time has been rookie sharpshooter Dalton Knecht—who has once again made it clear that he should be a featured player in the rotation.
Knecht has put together a solid rookie season, averaging 9.0 points and 1.4 three-point field goals made on .463/.363/.785 shooting in just 19.9 minutes per game. Those numbers translate to 16.3 points and 2.9 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
With Hachimura and Reaves battling injuries, Knecht has taken his game to another level, scoring 40 points between those three outings.
That began when Knecht provided eight points in just under 18 minutes during the Lakers' Feb. 28 win over the LA Clippers. It continued when he dropped 19 points and two steals in 24 minutes just two days later in a rematch with the Clippers.
Knecht rounded out his recent string of success by posting 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists in 26 minutes against the New Orleans Pelicans, thus furthering his unavoidably strong case.
Dalton Knecht proving too valuable to remove from Lakers' rotation
Knecht has now scored in double figures in eight of his past 16 games, shooting at a clip of .500/.420/.692 during that time. He now has 23 games with at least 10 points in 2024-25, with Los Angeles amassing a record of 15-8 in those outings.
That includes a record of 9-4 across the 13 games during which Knecht has scored at least 10 points since Christmas Day.
Considering he's still in his first NBA season, it's impressive to see Knecht impact winning in a positive way with his scoring. He's certainly in an advantageous position, having played alongside some combination of Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Reaves, but his quality is noteworthy nonetheless.
If the Lakers plan to maximize their championship dreams, then continuing to get Knecht significant reps will prove essential.
Removing Doncic, who has only appeared in nine games thus far, Knecht leads the Lakers in three-point field goals made per 36 minutes. Los Angeles is 8-4 when he buries at least three shots from beyond the arc, and 16-8 when he makes two or more.
Unfortunately, the Lakers' perimeter depth has often rendered him unable to play the necessary minutes to get into a consistent rhythm.
Many will point to his defensive flaws, as well as the valid fact that the Lakers have a better net rating when he isn't on the court. Rookies need time to find their place in a rotation, however, and Los Angeles has a player who's uniquely qualified to catch fire when the team needs him most.
Hachimura and Reaves are understandable priorities, but Knecht must remain a featured member of the offense once they return if the Lakers are going to make a deep run in the playoffs.