NBA Hall of Famer says Dalton Knecht should be the Rookie of the Year

Posted by Admin November 27, 2024 NBA

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Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht has been a revelation for the team lately. It was just days ago when he punctuated a multi-game hot streak with a 37-point outburst against the Utah Jazz, and he has given the Lakers some much-needed offensive depth alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

It is way too early to say with any confidence who should win this season’s Rookie of the Year award, especially given how weak this season’s rookie class is. But Knecht has made himself one of the favorites to win the award.

NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett went a step further. He said on the “KG Certified” podcast the No. 17 pick should be the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award, and he even said Knecht is now L.A.’s third option on offense (h/t Lakers Daily).

“He the third option in front of Austin Reaves and all that [expletive],” said Garnett. “Yeah, I said it, Knecht [expletive].”

Right now, Jared McCain of the Philadelphia 76ers is considered the favorite to win the award. He’s averaging 16.6 points a game for a Sixers squad that has been ravaged by injuries and drama.

But Knecht has done well in his own regard by averaging 11.5 points in 23.1 minutes a game while shooting 51.5% from the field and 45% from 3-point range. Although he has gone back to the bench after forward Rui Hachimura recently returned from a sprained ankle, he will apparently continue to play plenty of minutes.

If the University of Tennessee product continues to get at least approximately 25 to 28 minutes a game the rest of the way, winning Rookie of the Year honors may not be out of the question for him. As for becoming the Lakers’ third option, that could also be in his future thanks to his well-rounded offensive skill set.

He’s already fourth on the team with 18.0 points per 36 minutes, and Reaves, who is third in that category, is just an eyelash ahead of him with 18.3 points per 36 minutes.