Following a bustling offseason, number 17 pick Dalton Knecht and number 55 pick Bronny James both made their official debuts for the Los Angeles Lakers last night in a 110-103 win at home versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With Summer League, preseason, and now regular season basketball to their name, here are some very premature takeaways from Los Angeles’s newest rookie duo.
Dalton Knecht, Guard, Los Angeles Lakers
Dalton Knecht burst into the NBA scene as the steal of the 2024 Draft. The 23-year-old guard, who was projected to be in the top 12 picks, fell to pick number 17 and into the hands of head coach JJ Redick’s Lakers team.
After leading the Lakers’ Summer League roster and recording a standout performance in the preseason, Knecht has more or less secured a spot in Redick’s nine-man rotation.
Dalton Knecht checked into the Lakers’ first regular season game early into the second quarter where he ended up playing the bulk of his minutes. After 15 minutes on the court (10 of them in the second quarter), Knecht finished the night with five points (2/4 FG, 1/3 FG, 0/0 FTS), two assists, a rebound, and a steal. The underwhelming numbers, however, do little justice to the qualities he brought to the game.
Knecht made himself known to be a sharpshooter during the offseason, and although the sample size is small, he recorded a fairly efficient 50% from the field and 33% from the three-point line in his first regular season game.
However, fans may soon learn that the number 17 pick is quite the versatile offensive player. Dalton Knecht’s second field goal came from an impressive fast break to end the half, breaking out of his shooter role and showcasing his potent athleticism.
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Knecht also displayed creative potential with a witty lob to center Jaxson Hayes to kick off the rookie season.
When it comes to defensive responsibilities, Dalton Knecht is not as significant of a threat as he is on the offense. However, with his impressive physicality and vibrant athleticism, Knecht has the potential for some impactful on-ball defense in addition to the help defense that was displayed in his first game.
The box scores reflect less so Knecht’s skill but more so his next obstacle, earning a more involved role in the rotation. With just four field goal attempts, Dalton Knecht does not seem to be a main vessel for offense within the Lakers team, although his skillsets show a high potential to become one in the future.
It is a normal challenge for an NBA rookie to face, and Knecht’s involvement in the team’s play may just come with time.
LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., Guard, Los Angeles Lakers
Bronny James, on the other hand, made his mark on the public long before draft night as the eldest son of NBA superstar and fellow Lakers player LeBron James. After just one year with the University of Southern California, James declared for the draft and was picked up by the Lakers at number 55.
The 20-year-old guard made history with his father LeBron as the first father-son duo in NBA history to share the court, coming off the bench together with 4:00 seconds left in the second quarter.
Bronny James may have only seen the court for two minutes, but any amount of time on the court comes in handy for his journey which seems to have more of a focus on player development.
“I’m just extremely grateful for everything,” Bronny said to TNT Sports, “I was given an amazing opportunity to come into this league and get better every day and learn every day.”
Although he may not be considered NBA-ready right now, the point guard will have the chance to build up his rapport with the development team and possibly the Lakers’ G-League side South Bay Lakers.
Bronny James possesses hustle and energy as an on-ball defender, showcasing his ability to apply pressure onto NBA-level players.
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What the rookie must work on offensively is efficiency and involvement. The guard is still in the process of learning to assert on the court and demand the ball when necessary.
However, this is highly expected of a second-round rookie pick, and in a few years, the NBA may hear Bronny James’s name at the senior level once more.