Dalton Knecht has learned early in his NBA career how tumultuous a career in the Association can be. Just when it seems as though you're the next great Los Angeles Lakers rookie, factors beyond your control can take opportunities away for reasons that may not have anything to do with your game.
It's far too soon to hit the panic button for a rookie who has already flashed remarkable potential, but the Lakers have a Knecht problem that needs to be addressed.
Knecht has appeared in each of the 20-15 Lakers' 35 games thus far in 2024-25. During that time, he's accumulated respectable averages of 9.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.6 three-point field goals made on .461/.354/.800 shooting.
Being that he's producing those statistics in just 22.1 minutes per game, they translate to 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.7 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
By the numbers, the Lakers have every reason to be thrilled by what Knecht has brought to the table during his first NBA season. He's displayed the potential to become a high-level scoring threat, as well as a productive rebounder and a dangerous off-ball shooter.
Unfortunately, the Knecht who appears in the starting lineup and the one who comes off the bench might as well be two entirely different players.
Dalton Knecht the starter vs. Dalton Knecht the reserve: An L.A. mystery
Knecht has started 12 games for the Lakers in 2024-25. During that time, the rookie has produced averages of 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 offensive board, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals, and 2.8 three-point field goals made on a slash line of .475/.393/.636.
Simply looking at his production as a starter, the former Tennessee Volunteers star is on his way to putting together one of the better rookie seasons in Lakers history.
Unfortunately, Knecht's production plummets to 7.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.5 offensive boards, 0.9 assists, 0.2 steals, and 1.0 three-point field goal made as a reserve. The essential context is his playing time, as Knecht averages 30.2 minutes per game as a starter and 17.9 when coming off the bench.
Even context can't soften the blow of how much less efficient he is as a reserve, however, with a concerning slash line of .447/.312/.862.
This massive decline in efficiency, including an 8.1 percent dip from beyond the arc, has become impossible to overlook. Knecht, arguably the best three-point shooter on the roster, has gone from being expected to make every shot to being all but overlooked—or even passing up on opportunities himself.
Recently, he scored 13 points in 15 minutes during a 119-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 3, but received just three field goal attempts in 17 minutes against the Houston Rockets on Jan. 5.
Knecht is still prone to strong showings, having scored in double figures in three of the Lakers' past six games. His role on offense has gone from enabling him to score 114 points in a five-game stretch in November, however, to not knowing if or when shots will come his way in December and January.
Los Angeles is doing relatively well as a team, but if it hopes to realize its short-term and long-term potential, then JJ Redick must figure out how Knecht fits in the rotation.