Lakers 2024-25 Player Grades: Dalton Knecht’s Rookie Campaign
A Season of Highs and Lows for Dalton Knecht
The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2024 first-round pick had a rookie year full of both promise and turbulence. Dalton Knecht’s season began strong, earning early Rookie of the Year consideration thanks to his polished offensive game and confident scoring touch.
Things changed dramatically near the trade deadline. Knecht was nearly dealt in a blockbuster move. When the trade for Charlotte’s center Mark Williams was unexpectedly rescinded, he was thrust back into a locker room that had just prepared to move on without him. From that point forward, his role declined. His minutes shrank, and his place in the rotation became uncertain.
When Dalton Knecht dropped 37 points with 9 three pointers early in the season pic.twitter.com/zw66rlXYQO
— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) May 21, 2025
Solid Production Despite the Noise
Even with the late-season instability, Knecht still played in 78 of the Lakers’ 82 games—a notable feat for a rookie. He averaged 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while logging just 19.2 minutes a night.
He shot a solid 46.1% from the field and 37.6% from three, ranking in the top ten among all rookies in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and total points. Most importantly, he stayed available and durable through the ups and downs of the year.
Player Grade: B-
Knecht’s rookie season was far from smooth, but he handled the chaos with maturity and still found ways to contribute. His shooting ability and reliability gave the Lakers a steady bench option during stretches of uncertainty.
The rescinded trade also complicated things. Head coach J.J. Redick and his staff had already begun tailoring their schemes to fit Luka Dončić’s arrival—adjusting rotations, play styles, and roles. But when the trade fell through, those changes weren’t fully reversed.
As a result, Knecht returned to a team in the middle of a strategic shift that no longer included him in their plans. For a rookie, trying to find stability and rhythm in that kind of environment is a tall task.
A Promising Foundation
Despite the chaos, Knecht still showed the skills that made him a first-round pick. His smooth jumper, ideal size on the wing, and flashes of secondary playmaking hint at long-term potential.
He remains a raw prospect, and while defensive lapses and inconsistency showed up, those are common for young players—especially those facing the kind of midseason turmoil he did.
In the end, Knecht’s rookie year was shaped as much by external circumstances as by his own development curve. But the tools are there. With a full offseason to grow and a more stable situation next year, the Lakers might just have something real in Dalton Knecht.
