Anthony Davis provides the perfect critique of Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht

On November 20, 2024By Littum

Expected by many to miss the playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers have set the pace for one of the best seasons of the LeBron James era. First-year head coach JJ Redick has led Los Angeles to a 9-4 start to the 2024-25 regular season, with wins over every caliber of opponent.

Two of the key figures in that period have been franchise player Anthony Davis and breakout rookie Dalton Knecht.

Davis has paced the Lakers through their nine-game winning streak with an elite combination of offensive value and defensive omnipotence. Knecht has struggled at times, but at his best, he has been one of the most important players for the purple and gold.

In a recent post-game interviewDavis offered the perfect critique of Knecht to sum up the highs and lows.

Anthony Davis on Dalton Knecht:

“Every time he shoots the ball, we think it’s going in. That’s why we get so frustrated and sad when he doesn’t shoot. He’s a great player.”

— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) 17 November 2024

If the only criticism your teammates have of you is that you don’t shoot enough, then the tools to become the “big player” they think you can be are at your disposal.

Through 13 games, Knecht has averaged 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.8 three-point field goals in 20.2 minutes per game. His numbers translate to 16.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 offensive boards, 2.2 assists and 3.1 three-point field goals made per game. 36 minutes.

The most impressive element of Knecht’s success is exactly what Davis said: When he shoots, it’s expected to go in. Look no further than his .484/.404/1.000 slash line for supporting evidence.

For as strong as the production is from a rookie, the Lakers hope to see Knecht shed the fear that was present during the first few weeks of the season. He was drafted into the rotation because of how dynamic he is as a scorer, and even the franchise would like to see him shoot with more confidence.

Fortunately, that trend has begun to swing in the Lakers’ favor during the best three-game stretch of Knecht’s career thus far.

Knecht exceeded 30 minutes played for the first time this season during the Lakers’ recent 128-123 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. He scored a season-high 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and a 5-of-5 mark from beyond the arc, while also contributing three assists, two rebounds and a steal.

Next timeout, Knecht had 14 points and three rebounds in 26 minutes as the Lakers defeated the San Antonio Spurs 120-115.

It was the first time this season that Knecht scored at least 10 points in consecutive games. Never one to rest on his laurels, Knecht used it as the launching pad for the performance that has Lakers fans losing their minds at the realization of his upside.

With 27 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 104-99 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Knecht justified Davis labeling him a big player.

All that was needed was to take the advice to shoot more freely.