Dalton Knecht has been better than advertised for the Lakers

One of the earliest indicators of whether a rookie can hang at the next level is how they handle adversity. First-time NBA players typically have a rough go of it in their inaugural season. They are bullied on the pitch, have to adapt to a new way of making a living, and a relentless spotlight tracks their every step of their progress.

Despite being older than his peers, Dalton Knecht has not been exempt from these growing pains. In his first ten games, the No. 17 overall shot just 31% from behind the arc despite stellar shooting marks at Tennessee. His 50% eFG% was also suboptimal for a Lakers team starved of scoring punch off the bench.

To make matters worse, Knecht might as well have painted a red circle on the back of the purple and gold jersey that opposing players ruthlessly targeted him on defense.

And yet Knecht just kept playing.

He wasn’t surprised by his reliable shooting, nor did he blink at being isolated against a switch or his fluctuating minutes. Instead, the 23-year-old kept his head down and followed steadily. He played like someone who knew the results would eventually come. And they have.

Knecht has averaged 20 points in his last three games on a 63.9/63.2/100 shooting split. Perhaps even more impressive than his video game-like numbers is how timely and necessary they have been for the Lakers’ recent surge.

Against Memphis, Knecht’s fourth-quarter rush from deep salvaged what would have been the Lakers’ worst loss of the season. With injuries to Cam Reddish and Rui Hachimura, he stepped into the starting lineup and dropped an efficient 14 against San Antonio. And the Lakers needed every last one of his career-high 27 points in their comeback win against New Orleans.

“He’s getting comfortable,” JJ Redick said after the team’s win over the Pelicans. “But I would also say when you’re an offensive player, when you’re a guy who’s a high-level shooter, gets more extended runs and gets more minutes, you obviously just want to be more in the flow of games. I think I maybe called a play or two for him. But he kind of got it through our offense and our passing and ball movement.”

Like other leading shot makers, rhythm is essential to Knecht’s effectiveness. With more playing time – 31.5 minutes per game in his last three contests — and opportunity, Knecht has built momentum and capitalized on what made him such a dynamic threat in college.

It helps that his shots are starting to fall, yes. But don’t let results hide what has been there from day one for Knecht – universal trust.

Watch any Lakers game and you’ll quickly notice how much Redick and his teammates are rooting for the rookie. The ball just tends to find him, even though the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis are on the roster.

Whether that trust was given because Redick views Knecht as an extension of himself as a player or as the mouse that allows him to paint his X’s and O’s on the hardwood, Knecht has been the catalyst for some of the Lakers’ most creative play-calls. . Mainly because of his ability to shoot out of motion.

Between his touch, ability to dart off a variety of screens and quick trigger, Knecht has shown flashes of being the exact type of shooter the Lakers have been craving.

This once-lacking skill set has created more options in the half court (6th best efficiency) and has had a trickle-down effect on the team’s playbook. In particular, the Lakers’ Delay, Horns and Stack sets have become staples, where Knecht’s fingerprints can often be found.

Because of his shooting ability, Knecht is still often linked just a shooter. While that’s certainly a big part of his game, he’s also so much more than that.

In those cases where the defence ICE or goes over a screen to prevent him from getting free, for example, Knecht has shown the ability to put the ball on the floor by either getting to the rim or pulling up against bigs in drop coverage. He hasn’t flinched since it happened. In fact, he’s been as comfortable as he is when he’s behind the arc.

Knecht has converted on 60.6% of his 2-point field goal attempts this season. It ranks in the 91st percentile among all wings this year.

In addition to his shooting ability and versatility on the ball, Knecht has also shown a good feel as an off-ball weapon, primarily through his cutting.

With so much attention on James and Davis, Knecht has shown an ability to slide into open holes for easy opportunities. This is not entirely unusual for good shooters, as clipping and removing screens share similar philosophies.

However, what separates Knecht from these players is his ability to finish with two feet once the ball finds him. With several dunks under his belt already, Knecht’s ability to rise and finish through and over defenders – 78% shooting at the rim – is a useful tool in his box when finishes come faster and teams eventually try to top lock against him.

Because of the variety of ways he can score, Knecht has made an immediate impact on what has become a surging Lakers’ offense that now ranks fourth-best in the NBA.

Through 13 games, the Lakers are an impressive +9.4 points better when he’s been on the floor for 520 possessions and otherwise have 126.2 offRTG in those minutes. For the sake of the absurdity of that number, Boston currently leads the league with an offRTG of 125.5.

Of course, playing next to the team’s most potent offensive players helps inflate those numbers for Knecht, but he has more than played his part. And has in many ways been one of the spearheads.

If Knecht keeps shooting and playing like this, tough lineup decisions could be on the horizon.

Whether changes come in the form of more minutes coming his way at the expense of others or a consolidation trade down the road, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Knecht not only can play, but deserves to.

Knecht still needs to improve in key areas, namely the defensive end, to force Redick’s hand. But until then, at least the Lakers can sleep well knowing they appear to have it struck gold.

Even if Knecht regresses and hits another cold stretch like he did to start the year, fans and the team can take comfort in the fact that his confidence remains unwavering.

“I think every time I shoot the ball, I think it’s a great shot,” Knecht said when asked if he’s seen anything rash this season.

So whether they’re clanging off the rim or hitting the bottom of the net, Knecht will keep letting it fly. Because shooters shoot. And for the first time in a long time, the Lakers may be the team that benefits.

All statistics courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise noted. You can follow Alex on Twitter at @AlexmRegla.