Dalton Knecht made his New York Knicks debut on Nov. 4. He wasted no time in making his mark, scoring and shooting with volume and efficiency in limited minutes. After the game, Knicks head coach Mike Brown offered up a perspective the Los Angeles Lakers failed to truly understand.
While yes, Knecht is a skilled and capable floor spacer, he's a scorer who has been miscast as a spot-up shooter. Brown appears committed to learning from the Lakers' mistake on that front.
The Lakers should've done more with Knecht. That could ultimately mean a dozen different things, but Los Angeles waiving a top-20 pick after just two seasons is an abject failure. Unfortunately, Knecht has already reminded them of what could've been—on multiple fronts.
In his first game with the Knicks, Knecht recorded 10 points, seven rebounds, one assist, and a block in 16 minutes. After the game, Brown offered a crucial reminder: Knecht is a scorer, not a shooter.
Mike Brown on Dalton Knecht:
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) November 5, 2026
"He's a scorer. He's not just a shooter. A lot of people think he's a shooter because he's white. I said it for you, I hope I don't get in trouble. He can go get it" 😂 pic.twitter.com/k5dIQ2arwO
Though it may not seem like the most stark contrast, there are inherent differences that a coaching staff must be aware of in the effort to get their player into a rhythm.
Mike Brown on Dalton Knecht: "He's a scorer. He's not just a shooter."
With a pure shooter, getting them the ball in their preferred spots can be enough to get them going. A shot that they can step into or even a no-dip three like the one Matisse Thybulle has seemingly mastered can be enough to get a shooter into a rhythm and lead to a solid night at the office.
For a scorer, however, they need to have the ball in their hands for longer stretches and receive the opportunity to at least attempt to create their own looks.
That doesn't mean that they can't also operate in a spot-up role, especially if they aren't the team's go-to scorer. Even then, they should have off-ball value. It's simply a matter of not putting a scorer in a box and expecting them to be the best version of themselves.
During his Knicks debut, Knecht received varied opportunities to provide offense and ultimately turned in a strong scoring performance. Unfortunately, the Lakers struggled to provide him with said chances.
Lakers put Dalton Knecht in the box of a spot-up shooter
When the Lakers were built around Anthony Davis and LeBron James, Knecht fairly frequently showcased his scoring potential. That includes a pair of 30-point games and seven 20-point games. For what it's worth: He attempted at least 13 shots in every one of those performances.
Once the Lakers traded Davis for Luka Doncic, however, they ran out of space for perimeter-oriented scorers and shot creators. With Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves all with high usage rates, there simply weren't many touches to go around for other wings.
Thankfully for Knecht, he's seemingly landed in a situation that intends to develop him based on what his preferred style of play actually is. That doesn't guarantee that he'll be successful, but it at least gives him a chance to play a role that suits him.
Whether it was trading him while he still had market value or developing him in a suitable role, the Lakers failed Knecht. At the very least, a fresh start is giving him a viable second chance.
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