Dalton Knecht Bio: Net Worth, Salary, and Professional Career

Dalton Knecht is an American professional basketball player and shooting guard drafted 17th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024 after an impressive college career at Tennessee. He earned SEC Player of the Year and First-Team All-American honors in 2024. Popular for his elite shooting, he transferred from junior college to Northern Colorado and then to Tennessee, where his NCAA career averaged a 21.7 PPG.

With the Lakers in his rookie season, Knecht played 72 out of 82 games, bringing to the foreground his offensive potential, though showcasing his offensive potential, though defensive consistency still has quite a bit of room for improvement. His year looked rather disorderly. He started strong, but ended up in a failed trade and eventually saw reduced playing time in the playoffs.

However, his shooting aggressiveness and passion earned praise from Coach JJ Redick. Off the court, Knecht has already secured an endorsement deal with El Pollo Loco, becoming their first athlete partner, and is focused on continued growth during the offseason before participating in the Summer League.

Dalton Knecht's Early Life

Dalton Knecht was born in Fargo, North Dakota, with strong family roots across the state. His mother hails from West Fargo, while his father comes from the small town of Enderlin. During Knecht's senior year, Dalton stood around 6'1″, and averaged 21.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Despite showcasing impressive performances and strong stats, he was not taken seriously when it came to the point of receiving no Division I offers, largely due to his late physical growth and limited exposure. He had shown a strong high school performance but lacked top-tier recruitment.

He has had a strong high school performance but lacked top-tier recruitment. Additionally, he took the initiative to grow at a junior college before advancing to Division I. Despite his late physical growth, a better understanding is that this shines through in his determination, resilience, and constant pursuit of improvement. These qualities significantly paved his path to NCAA prominence and eventually the NBA.

Dalton Knecht Personal Information

Dalton Douglas Knecht, known by nicknames like “Knecht 4,” “DK,” and “Westside Knecht,” is a 6-foot-6, 215-pound wing who plays both shooting guard and small forward. Born on April 19, 2001, in Fargo, North Dakota, he was raised in Thornton, Colorado. As of 2025, he’s 24 years old and currently suits up for the Los Angeles Lakers, having made his NBA debut on October 22, 2024.

Dalton Knecht's Personal Life

Dalton Knecht is popular amongst his peers as a dedicated gym rat. He is often observed to be staying late after practice and returning to the court in the middle of the night to hone his skills. This has become a reflection of his strong discipline and work ethic. Knecht pursued his education with the same drive he brings to the court, earning a master’s degree in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication. Additionally, he has drawn inspiration from NBA player Kevin Durant and has talked about his work ethic, having a considerable amount of influence on Knecht.

Dalton Knecht's Parents

Dalton Knecht parents are Corey and Carrie Knecht, both of whom played basketball during their youth. Corey Knecht played basketball at Mayville State University and Carrie played in high school, which clearly influenced Dalton's athletic path, in a way was derived to be genetic too.

Corey Knecht starred as a All State point guard in North Dakota and was regular in his inititative to train Dalton from a young age. This helped in instilling strong fundamentals and discipline through weekend gym sessions that continue even today.

Dalton’s mother, Carrie Knecht, was also a standout high school player and later earned a degree in accounting. She has been Dalton's emotional cornerstone, attending every game, coordinating events like his draft party in Enderlin, and helping maintain balance off the court.

Together, Corey and Carrie nurtured Dalton's competitive spirit and work ethic, playing a critical role in his rise from junior college to SEC stardom and ultimately the NBA.

Dalton Knecht Contract

Dalton Knecht contract is with the Lakers, which he signed in July 2024, worth approximately $18.5 million. It is a four-year rookie standard scale contract. The deal is fully guaranteed for the first two years that approximates to about $7.63M, with the third and fourth years controlled by the team via options $4.20M and $6.45M respectively.
His rookie season salary was $3.82M, increasing to roughly $4.01M in his second year, with minor incentives included. If the Lakers decline the options, Knecht would become a restricted free agent after the 2027–28 season. This structure is standard for mid-first-round picks and allows the team flexibility while rewarding Knecht's projected development.

Dalton Knetch's Salary

Dalton Knecht is currently on a four-year rookie-scale contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, valued at approximately $18.5 million. In his rookie season, Dalton Knecht salary was $3,819,120, which shall increase to $4,010,160 in his second year (2025–26). The third and fourth years of his deal, $4,201,080 and $6,452,859, respectively, are team options, giving the Lakers flexibility depending on his development.

These salaries follow the standard NBA rookie pay scale for a mid first-round draft pick and reflect the team’s long-term belief in his potential. If both options are exercised, Knecht will have earned over $18.4 million by the end of the 2027–28 season.

Dalton Knecht Net Worth

As of early 2025, Dalton Knecht net worth is around $750,000, primarily from his rookie salary and earnings from college NIL deals and early brand endorsements. Though ledgers show he signed a four-year rookie contract with the Lakers worth roughly $18.48 million, only the first two years are fully guaranteed and will convert gradually into net worth after taxes, agent fees, living expenses, and cost of living in Los Angeles.

He has also secured a mix of endorsement deals that add to his earnings and long-term financial footing.

Knecht is the first athlete partner for El Pollo Loco, a collaboration that began shortly after he arrived in LA last year. According to silverscreenandroll.com, he said that.

Dalton Knecht Career

Dalton Knecht rocketed from junior college sleeper to SEC superstar and NBA record‑tying rookie, piling up honors at every stop. After two seasons at Northeastern JC, where he was an NJCAA First‑Team All‑American in 2021, he transferred to Northern Colorado, earning Second‑Team All‑Big Sky (2023).

One more move, to Tennessee, produced a historic 2023‑24 campaign: Knecht became the unanimous SEC Player of the Year, SEC Newcomer of the Year, First‑Team All‑SEC, Julius Erving Small‑Forward of the Year and a consensus First‑Team All‑American. Drafted 17th overall by the Lakers, he splashed an NBA‑rookie–record‑tying nine three‑pointers and 37 points on Nov. 20, 2024, setting a Lakers rookie mark in the process .

His 78‑game first season (9.1 PPG, 37.6 % 3PT) drew All‑Rookie votes and solidified a multi‑year Jordan Brand endorsement . Still just 24, Knecht’s résumé already spans junior‑college dominance, Power‑5 stardom, and record‑setting NBA flashes.

Dalton Knecht High School Career

Dalton Knecht’s high school basketball career was the quiet beginning of a remarkable rise. He attended Prairie View High School in Henderson, Colorado, where he was a standout scorer, averaging 21 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a senior.

Though he had a late growth spurt, reaching 6'6" in his school's final year. Knecht remained under the radar of major college programs and received no NCAA Division I offers out of high school.

As a result, he chose to continue his basketball journey at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, a move that ultimately laid the foundation for his future success. His high school years were marked by steady development, hard work, and a deep belief in his ability, qualities that would later define his college and professional career. After two seasons at Northeastern JC, where he was an NJCAA First‑Team All‑American. he then transferred to Northern Colorado, earning Second‑Team All‑Big Skyin the year 2023.

Dalton Knecht College Career

Dalton Knecht college career is a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and late-blooming excellence. He began at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado, where he averaged 13.3 points per game as a freshman and 23.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2 assists as a sophomore. He earned his first NJCAA First-Team All-American honors.

He then transferred to Northern Colorado, a Division I school, where in his senior year, he posted 20.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, earning Second-Team All-Big Sky recognition.

Seeking a bigger stage, Knecht transferred for his fifth year to the University of Tennessee in the SEC. There, he had a breakout season, averaging 21.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, leading the Volunteers to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.

He was named SEC Player of the Year, SEC Newcomer of the Year, a Consensus First-Team All-American, and won the Julius Erving Award as the nation’s top small forward. His college journey, spanning junior college, mid major, and Power Five levels culminated in him being drafted 17th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft. Dalton Knecht stats are given below:

Dalton Knecht Professional Career

Dalton Knecht’s NBA career got off to an impressive start as a sharpshooting guard selected 17th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. In his rookie season, he appeared in 78 of 82 games, averaging 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game, while shooting an efficient 46.1% from the field and 37.6% from three-point range.

He truly broke out on November 20, 2024, when he scored 37 points and tied the NBA rookie record with nine three-pointers in a single game, instantly etching his name in Lakers history.

Dalton Knecht Shoes

A multi-year sneaker endorsement was signed by Dalton Knecht with Jordan Brand in October 2024, making him part of an elite group of rookies alongside Ja'Kobe Walter, Stephon Castle, and Jared McCain. On the court, he primarily sports the Air Jordan 39, wearing them in approximately 95% of his games through the 2024–25 season. He’s also been seen occasionally in other Jordan models, including the Luka 2 and Tatum 3 during a few matchups. These shoes reflect his growing status as a young sharpshooter with the Lakers and solidify his partnership with one of basketball’s most iconic brands.

Dalton Knecht Jersey

Dalton Knecht wears No. 4 for the Los Angeles Lakers. The number selection is a clever play on his last name, when pronounced "Knecht," it sounds like "Connect," so his jersey number “4”.

This cheekily forms “Knecht 4,” referencing the popular game Connect Four . In college, Knecht wore No. 3, but upon entering the NBA, that number was unavailable because it was already worn by Anthony Davis, so he adopted No. 4 to preserve the nickname pun the Lakers announced upon his selection .

Dalton Knecht Awards and Achievements

Dalton Knecht rocketed from junior to college sleeper to SEC superstar and NBA record‑tying rookie, piling up honors at every stop. After two seasons at Northeastern JC, where he was an NJCAA First‑Team All‑American in the year 2021. He transferred to Northern Colorado, earning Second‑Team All‑Big Sky.

One more move, to Tennessee, produced a historic 2023‑24 campaign: Knecht became the unanimous SEC Player of the Year, SEC Newcomer of the Year, First‑Team All‑SEC, Julius Erving Small‑Forward of the Year and a consensus First Team All American. Drafted 17th overall by the Lakers, he splashed an NBA‑rookie–record‑tying nine three‑pointers and 37 points on Nov. 20, 2024. Still just 24, Knecht’s résumé already spans junior‑college dominance, Power‑5 stardom, and record‑setting NBA flashes.