LOS ANGELES — Although he was just describing his experience, Dalton Knecht’s response to what he learned during his rookie NBA season with the Lakers could apply to him and fellow rookie Bronny James.
“Anything can happen,” Knecht said during his end-of-season media availability. “Crazy year.”
Even though Knecht, the Lakers’ first-round pick in last year’s draft, and James, the team’s second-round pick, started their rookie seasons in significantly different places, both experienced the NBA roller coaster as rookies.
James’ rookie season started in historic fashion when he and his dad, LeBron James, became the first father and son to share the floor on an NBA court during the Lakers’ preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 6.
They officially entered the league’s record books a couple of weeks later when they became the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA during the Lakers’ regular season-opening win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 22.
“It was a surreal moment,” the younger James said. “I really don’t know how to describe it. But felt like [playing] pickup [basketball] back when I was 10 years old, just playing with him. It was crazy.”
At the same time, Knecht was in the team’s Day One rotation, initially as a reserve before temporarily being placed into the starting lineup in mid-November, leading to his best stretch of play: 14.2 points per game (47.9% shooting, 40% from 3-point range) and 5.0 rebounds over 13 games.
“My jumper’s always cash,” Knecht said after the season ended. “Always.”
Meanwhile, James, who the Lakers viewed as a development player, initially struggled in his first couple of G League games playing for the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
But as he started to find his footing, his performances improved, including multiple 30-point games in the G League.
“Bronny’s work with South Bay Lakers was – you can look at the numbers and see his trajectory and growth and maturity,” General Manager Rob Pelinka said. “He’s a guy that shows up every day trying to get better. We appreciate that quality about him and it played out.”
His best moment with the NBA team came when he recorded 17 points (7 of 10 shooting) and five assists in 30 minutes in the Lakers’ March 20 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, a matchup in which the Lakers sat most of their main rotation players during their sixth games in eight nights.
“It’s a huge difference in my confidence,” James said. “The start of the year, I was under a lot of pressure. And it was getting to me a little bit. So just having those games like the Bucks game, just having those games in the G League, just built my confidence every day and proved to me I know what I can do and I’m ready to keep growing as a player.”
Knecht’s playing time decreased, especially in January, before being included in the trade package for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams, a deal that was eventually rescinded by the Lakers after Williams failed the team’s physical, resulting in Knecht rejoining the team.
“Just lucky I got good vets around me,” Knecht said.
Knecht’s playing time didn’t come as consistently once he rejoined the team, and he was out of the main rotation by the end of the season. But Pelinka praised the 24-year-old Knecht for how he handled the situation.
“Even when he fell out of the rotation, the stretch of the season that played out in the playoffs, he was in the gym every day leading the stay-ready group, bringing a constant energy,” Pelinka said of Knecht. “He’s already talked about what he wants to do this offseason in terms of adding to his strength and adding to his endurance and his ability to defend and be physical in the league.”
James said he plans on playing for the Lakers’ Summer League team in Las Vegas.
Knecht’s future with the team is uncertain, with him likely needing to be included in any trade package that would lead to a significant roster upgrade for 2025-26 – with Pelinka acknowledging next season’s team will look different.
But both James and Knecht will look to use their rookie seasons as a stepping stone for what they hope to be long NBA careers.