Dalton Knecht’s first night with the Knicks came with a quick reminder that his game is bigger than the label that’s followed him around.
New York rolled past Chicago 135-105, and Knecht made his debut in the win after the Lakers waived him just weeks ago. The performance itself was solid enough - 10 points, seven rebounds and one assist in 4-of-6 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from three - but it was Mike Brown’s postgame comments that turned the night into something more than a box score note.
Brown said he made the call to get Knecht into the game late in the first half on instinct.
“Just a gut feeling. He’s not on my ‘minutes sheet’; he’s down to zero minutes. I just had a gut feeling to throw him in towards the end of the first half,” Brown said as he explained what went into the decision to make Dalton Knecht play tonight.
From there, Brown went straight at the way Knecht has been viewed.
“He’s a scorer. He’s not just a shooter.
A lot of people think he’s a shooter because he’s white. I said it for you.
I hope I don’t get in trouble,” Brown notably added.
Brown then laid out the rest of what he sees in the former Lakers forward.
“But I mean, he can go get it. He can shoot from range, he’s got a mid-range game, he can get to the rim, he can pass. He’s got to work defensively, and I thought tonight he tried to play within himself and do the best he could.”
He closed by pointing to the impact Knecht made before halftime.
“There are a couple of things defensively that he’s got to focus on, but I thought he gave us a nice lift, especially offensively when he played towards the end of the first half,” Brown concluded.
Knecht said the moment didn’t catch him off guard.
“No, I wasn’t surprised. I just came in ready to go. The coaches said, ‘You’re active ‘- that just means be ready,” Dalton Knecht said on his approach to being called into action for his Knicks debut.
The night also produced the kind of highlight that travels fast. In a viral sequence from the game, Knecht stepped back for a three over Matas Buzelis and left the Bulls player stumbling. Lakers fans, according to the source, were clearly shocked to see that side of Knecht.
The broader takeaway from the night was simple: Brown believes Knecht was never just a one-note player, and the debut gave him a chance to show more than the old scouting shorthand.
In Other News...
Luka Doncic Is Fueling A Lakers Debate Fans Can't Ignore
Luka Doncics arrival has given the Lakers a different kind of spotlight, and not all of it has been about his production. NBA analyst Bill Simmons recently took aim at Doncics on-court demeanor, arguing that the star guard has become increasingly difficult to watch because of the way he reacts to officials and carries himself during games. It is the sort of criticism that follows a player everywhere once it starts, especially when that player is expected to be the centerpiece of a title chase.
For the Lakers, the bigger issue is that the noise around Doncics body language keeps colliding with how well he is actually playing. He has continued to perform at a high level and does not appear bothered by the commentary, which only adds to the split-screen debate: one side sees an elite talent who can tilt games, while the other sees a star whose constant complaints risk becoming part of the story every night. [Read more 🡒]
Lukas Latest MVP Push Has Mavericks Fans Watching One New Twist
Luka Doni has opened the season looking every bit like an early MVP candidate, piling up huge scoring nights while also showing a sharper edge on the defensive end. The Lakers have ridden that surge to a 6-2 start, with Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler helping steady the rotation around him even as the bench has been a weak spot.
What has made this stretch especially interesting is that Doni is doing more than just carrying the offense. His all-around impact has given the Lakers a different kind of ceiling, and it has Mavericks fans watching closely for the latest twist in a storyline they know well. If this level of two-way play holds, the conversation around him could get even louder before long. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Hot Start Is Fueling A LeBron Debate Fans Can't Ignore
The Lakers early 6-2 start without LeBron James has already turned into a bigger conversation than just a hot opening stretch. On a recent episode of the Game Over podcast, Max Kellerman and Rich Paul offered two very different reads on why Los Angeles has looked so sharp in the 2026-27 season, with the debate quickly shifting from the record itself to what it says about the teams identity.
Kellerman saw James departure as the opening that let Luka Doncic settle in as the clear leader, while Paul pushed back on the idea that James leaving was the key variable. He pointed instead to the Lakers improved defense and the way the roster has come together, leaving the larger question hanging over a team that has started to look comfortable without the player who defined it for so long. [Read more 🡒]