NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates 
Dalton Knecht will have to resuscitate his career in the G League.
Head coach Mike Brown said he wants the Knicks’ new acquisition to get game reps rather than just “sit.” That means, barring injuries or unexpected events, the former first-round pick will be hooping with Westchester when the G League season starts next month.
Advertisement
“We want him to play as much as he can,” Brown said. “So he’s gonna play some games with Westchester. If we need him to play games with us, we’ll do that. I’d rather him play than be around us too much and sit.”
Dalton Knecht was drafted No. 17 overall in 2024 by the Lakers, with whom he spent the first two seasons of his NBA career. Getty Images
A tall two-guard, Knecht signed a two-way contract with the Knicks on Friday night and joined the team for Sunday night’s game against the Magic at the Garden. He was available because the Lakers cut Knecht after just two seasons, despite picking him 17th overall and watching him get named to the 2025 Rising Stars Challenge.
Knecht’s career plummeted after the Lakers acquired Luka Dončić via trade. His playing time and production diminished, and the Lakers quickly tried to deal Knecht to the Hornets for Mark Williams. When Williams failed his physical, Knecht had to return to the Lakers for sparse playing time.
Advertisement
“I don’t think nothing changed. I think the team just got changed and that was it,” Knecht said Sunday when asked why his career took a downturn after the hot rookie start. “Still loved my time that I was there. No hard feelings; on to better things.”
The Knicks are taking a low-risk chance that Knecht can rediscover the game that made him the 17th overall pick in 2024 — and the rookie who once scored 27 points and 37 points in consecutive wins with the Lakers.
“We’ll take it day by day to see how quickly he picks up on the offense and the defense,” Brown said. “And, and then, if there’s a need to throw him out there [with the senior Knicks], I won’t hesitate to throw him out there.”
Dalton Knecht is joining the Knicks on a two-way deal, and is expected to report to Westchester. NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks thought…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dalton-knecht-chance-redemption-begin-002445033.html
Author :
Publish date : 2026-10-26 00:24:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
