Dalton Knecht Becoming a Key Piece for Surging Lakers

After an up-and-down start, it seems like the Lakers have finally hit their stride. Los Angeles isn’t just playing good basketball, they are on a five game win streak where it appears as if everything is going right. There are several reasons for their sudden surge, but one of the biggest is stand out rookie Dalton Knecht.

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

The small forward started out a bit slow, trying to find his footing in the much-faster NBA, before exploding during the Lakers’ recent win streak. A lot of that is due to his shooting, but there’s plenty to be said about his newfound confidence as well.

Los Angeles took him 17th in the draft, clearly showing the faith they had in him at the time. However, Knecht appeared a bit overwhelmed during his first NBA games. The rust now seems to be wearing off, which is great news for the purple and yellow.

Finding His Footing

In his first NBA game, Knecht scored zero points and put up no stats in eleven minutes of play time. He then responded to that dud by dropping 18 in his second game against the Cavaliers. After that, he came back down to Earth.

He posted 5 points in his next game, followed by 5, 3, 2, 5 in the following four. Even so, his quickness, ability to get to the basket, and strong defense gave the coaching staff faith that he would turn it around. That’s exactly what happened.

Knecht exploded over the next few games, scoring 19, 14, and 27 while also adding a few assists and rebounds in the process. Those contests showed why he’s in the NBA, and how he’s impressed coaches and players alike.

An Important Role

The Lakers have largely been propped up by Anthony Davis and LeBron James this year. While the stars were always expected to carry the load, they’ve been asked to do more with Los Angeles’ bench not really stepping up.

Not only that, but Cam Reddish and Rui Hachimura have both missed games, which has put even more strain on the team. That’s left the Lakers quite top heavy. That can work in the short run, but the best teams tend to be well-rounded or have a deep bench.

That’s where Knecht has stepped in

The rookie has fully embraced being a role player, which is a big reason the Lakers are on a five game win streak. He stretches the floor, allows the stars to rest, and might just be the spark Los Angeles needs to hit their stride moving into the second part of the season.

Winning Big in New Orleans

Fans are quite excited about Knecht’s potential following his big performance in the Lakers recent win over New Orleans. Not only did it continue their blazing hot streak, but it showed that the guard can step up and take over a game when asked.

His 27 points didn’t just come around the hoop. He shot 5-10 from three and gained more confidence in himself as the game went on. Seeing the ball go in always helps. It’s nice to have a player who can step up too.

Confidence is a big part of succeeding at the top level, and the staff wants Knecth to keep doing what he’s doing. He’s likely to see more play time going forward, something Knecht understands and is more than ready to handle.

More Responsibility, More Power

The past few games show that Knecht belongs in the NBA and could plug into what is an already solid lineup. The 17th overall pick is in the perfect situation for a talented rookie. He’s also someone LeBron and Davis could lean on going forward.

James certainly noticed his big performance against the Pelicans, showing he could advocate for Knecht to be more involved in the coming weeks.

“He’s been a pro for a while,” the future hall of famer remarked. “I talked about it last year so it’s no surprise to me.”

Regardless of what happens, it’s undeniable that Knecht means a lot to the team. His recent scoring provided a spark during the Grizzlies game, and also kicked off a Lakers run against the Pelicans. Both ended in wins, which sent a message to everyone: Let him shoot.

“It’s always good to have a coach like that, that’s super confident in you, always wanting you to shoot the ball,” Knecht said of his performance, showing the chemistry is just getting started and there is a lot more to come.

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