NBA analyst and former player Kendrick Perkins wants to see more Dalton Knecht in the Lakers’ lineup moving forward.
Perkins took to X on Wednesday night and didn’t hold back his thoughts on J.J. Redick’s decision-making. And while Perkins ultimately complimented the Lakers on their decision to use Knecht in the starting lineup, it came across as a bit of a backhanded compliment.
“JJ [Redick] used his common sense tonight I see,” Perkins said after a 20-point game from VFL Dalton Knecht. “Leave Dalton Knecht in the damn starting lineup. I guess common sense ain’t that common no more.”
JJ finally used his common sense tonight I see. Leave Dalton Knecht in the damn starting lineup. I guess common sense ain’t that common no more.
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) November 28, 2024
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The former Tennessee wing is just 18 games into his rookie season but has already emerged as one of the best shooting rookies in the entire class. While Knecht has come off the bench for the majority of the season, the former Vol did spend five games in the starting lineup with Rui Hachimura injured. When Hachimura returned, Knecht was moved back to the bench and saw his shooting numbers decline.
After a blowout loss to the Suns on Tuesday night, Redick suggested that he would consider making a lineup change for Wednesday’s game against the Spurs. That consideration turned to reality as Knecht was put back into the starting lineup, this time not just in the wake of an injury.
Redick wanted to capitalize on Knecht’s offensive prowess.
Knecht ended up scoring a game-high 20 points against the Spurs as he knocked down four three-pointers in 31 minutes on the court. The former Vol also recorded a season-high eight rebounds in the contest as a huge spark for the Lakers.
Knecht is averaging 11.7 points per game this season but those numbers shoot up when just looking at his six games as a starter in the lineup. In those six starts, Knecht’s average jumps all the way up to 19.7 points per game with an uptick in his overall shooting and three-point shooting.
Knecht may just be a rookie but the stats don’t lie. The former Vol is a solid rotational player off the bench but really steps up in the starting role with more minutes on the court, more time to get in a groove, and an ability to adapt and play with the Lakers’ starting superstars.
Dalton Knecht and the Lakers will return to the court in Los Angeles for a 10:00 p.m. ET game against the Thunder on Friday night.
