Dalton Knecht has catapulted his name into the running for the 2024-25 Rookie of the Year award. The Los Angeles Lakers sharpshooter erupted for 27 points against the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 16 and immediately followed the effort with 37 in a win over the Utah Jazz.
The quiet question emerging from those explosive performances was simple: What can the Lakers expect of Knecht when he isn't in the midst of a heat check?
Knecht answered that question in a profound manner during the Lakers' recent 119-118 loss to the Orlando Magic. He played a team-high 39 minutes, competing on both ends of the floor and providing well-rounded contributions as a scorer.
Knecht attempted 14 shots—a reasonable expectation for an average during his rookie season—and proved that he didn't need to be the focal point to be effective.
Knecht finished the loss to Orlando with 17 points, shooting 7-of-14 from the field and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. It was yet another efficient display from him, but the biggest takeaway was that he could pace himself to a strong and sustainable performance.
Knecht buried shots in each of the four quarters, balancing his three-point marksmanship with floaters, a dunk, and a below-the-rim finish.
Dalton Knecht doesn't need to go off to positively impact the Lakers
Knecht has now scored at least 14 points in each of the Lakers' past five games. That provides intriguing evidence to support the belief that he can contribute positively in a supplemental role, which stands to increase the frequency of his success in a featured capacity.
Perhaps even more importantly, it was a performance that offered a necessary reminder of how well-rounded he is as a scorer.
Knecht's greatest strength is his three-point shooting, which head coach JJ Redick has been wise to emphasize. What makes the 23-year-old such an intriguing player, however, is that he has true three-level scoring potential.
Knecht has prototypical size and athleticism for a modern wing, as well as the skill set, poise, and finishing ability to find the bottom of the net from any angle on the court.
Equal in intrigue is how far Knecht already seems to have come on the defensive end of the floor. His energy and intensity are far more consistent than they were during the early stages of the regular season, which is a significant contributor to his ability to play 39 minutes.
Knecht's shooting will always give him a chance to be on the court, but the difference between a career as a situational player and full-time starting opportunities will be the continuation of his progress on defense.
Moving forward, Knecht will be one of the most important players on the Lakers' roster. He's the best wing shooter on the team, and even if he hits a rookie wall that brings his efficiency down, his fearlessness and steady improvement can elevate Los Angeles on both ends of the floor.
Difficult decisions await Redick on the rotation front, but Knecht has proven that he can be valuable whether he's going off or not.