Lakers face backlash for moving on from Dalton Knecht despite his better numbers than Bronny James
Knecht scored more points in one month during his rookie season than Bronny has in his entire career
The 2026-27 NBA season is officially underway, with the Detroit Pistons becoming the first team to claim a 1-0 record after defeating the Boston Celtics 121-113. The Pistons' opening victory was propelled by Cade Cunningham (22 points) , Jalen Duren (22 points) , and Duncan Robinson (21 points) all eclipsing the 20-point mark, while Paul George delivered a strong performance with 38 points, the most points in a Celtics debut .
Meanwhile, two of the league's most valuable and popular franchises, the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers , kick off their regular season against each other amidst surrounding questions.
The Warriors, led by Stephen Curry , enter the year following a quiet offseason, made more challenging as Jimmy Butler remains sidelined until 2027 and Kristaps Porzingis has no definitive timetable for return.
For the Lakers, this marks the official beginning of a completely new era without LeBron James on the roster, featuring sweeping personnel changes under the full command of the reigning NBA scoring leader, Luka Doncic .
Lakers Waved Dalton Knecht to Keep Bronny James on Roster
Under new ownership and navigating a drastically overhauled roster, third-year head coach JJ Redick faces the monumental challenge of integrating 8 new players , including key additions Walker Kessler and Quentin Grimes , who are projected to join Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the starting unit.
However, recent roster cuts have sparked intense fan backlash after the front office officially waived Dalton Knecht , their 2024 first-round draft pick , to reach the league-mandated 15-player standard contract limit before the deadline.
The move came as a shock to analysts, especially considering Knecht was expected to battle for rotation minutes or develop in the G League alongside Bronny James .
The criticism primarily stems from the stark contrast in career production between the two young guards. Knecht's initial NBA breakthrough came in November 2024 , when he erupted for 37 points and tied an NBA rookie record by sinking nine 3-pointers against the Utah Jazz.
In that single month alone, Knecht accumulated 190 total points , more than Bronny James has scored across his entire professional career ( 184 total points ).
Fans and media pundits alike are questioning why Los Angeles opted to release a proven perimeter shooter while retaining James. Selected 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft , Bronny has logged 69 games (starting two) across his first two professional seasons, averaging just 2.7 points per game in limited action.
As Los Angeles shifts its focus to opening night, the decision to part ways with Knecht remains one of the most controversial roster moves heading into the new campaign.
