Dalton Knecht continues to be exactly what the Lakers needed

Dalton Knecht continues to be exactly what the Lakers needed

One of the best rookies a month into the 2024-25 season has unquestionably been Los Angeles Lakers sharpshooter Dalton Knecht. Ahead of the season, he labeled it as a “blessing in disguise” that he fell to No. 17 overall, despite being a consensus top-10 prospect by multiple big boards.

So far, he’s only proved them–and the Lakers–right on the swing.

Through 15 games, the 6-foot-6 guard is averaging 11.7 points and 2.6 rebounds on 52.0 percent shooting, including 46.1 percent from 3-point range on 5.1 3-point attempts. That doesn’t tell the full story, though.

Over the last five games, he’s received ample playing time, and he’s made the most of it. He’s averaging 22.8 points and 4.2 rebounds on 63.6 percent shooting, canning 24 of his 38 3-point attempts (63.2 percent) over that span. That’s remarkable efficiency, which, frankly, the Lakers have needed.

In 2023-24, the Lakers took the third-fewest attempts from 3-point range while owning the third-lowest 3-point rate. Within JJ Redick‘s offense, run through Anthony Davis, the offense is more spaced, but they still rank in the bottom-third in both of those respective categories.

Knecht has been one of the primary reasons for the uptick, though–which has thus boosted the rest of the offense. Different lineups and different contexts lend different results. But the Lakers are 15.4 points per 100 possessions better offensively when Knecht is on the floor versus when he’s not, ranking in the 96th percentile of on-off splits, per Cleaning The Glass.

The team also takes 1.9 percent more 3s (67th percentile), converts them at a 5.2 percent higher clip (87th) and improves its effective field goal percentage by 8.4 percent (98th) when he’s on the floor. That’s exactly what the Lakers need, thus opening up the floor for the rest of the offense–namely Davis and LeBron James.

Knecht has adept spacial and court awareness; he knows not only how to move off-ball, but when to do it and how to do it with purpose.

We are not always privy to why certain teams run certain actions, but moving for the sake of moving isn’t always conducive to success, depending on where and how you’re moving. Though you’re never going to keep a defense honest or be able to leverage any gravity if you’re not doing so with a purpose. That’s exactly what Knecht does, understanding the power his shooting prowess presents.

The raw numbers may not pop off the screen, but he’s one of the biggest reasons why the team has been a top-5 offense in the sport. He’s not just a shooter, but that’s his greatest weapon right now–and one that could be the difference for the Lakers down the stretch this season.

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