Ex-Lakers star cut for Bronny James stuns fans in Knicks debut

Dalton Knecht just made the Lakers look like they made a mistake.

The former Lakers first-round pick debuted for the New York Knicks on October 23, 2026, scoring 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds in a two-way contract debut.

Weeks earlier, the Los Angeles Lakers waived Knecht to keep Bronny James on the final standard roster spot.

Knecht was the Lakers' first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, selected 17th overall.

Bronny James went 55th in the same draft.

As a rookie, Knecht earned rotational minutes and averaged 9.1 points per game.

Bronny spent most of his rookie season developing in the G League.

Last season, Knecht's role shrank after a failed trade to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams in 2025.

His form declined, and the Lakers eventually waived him before opening night of the 2026-27 season.

The decision came down to roster math: the Lakers had 16 guaranteed contracts and needed to cut to 15.

Knecht, Jaden Hardy, and Bronny were the most logical candidates.

The Lakers kept Bronny and let Knecht go.

Now Knecht is in New York, and fans are drawing comparisons.

"Of course it's a mistake. JJ doesn't know how to manage, and (Knecht) was misused after the failed trade. Why LeBum Jr. is still here is stupid," one fan posted on social media.

Another fan wrote: "He had 38 points in one game for the Lakers until he had to share with Bronny."

Not all fans were harsh.

"He just wanted off the team. He got his wish and he's balling now. Wish him nothing but good things, no hard feelings over here," one Lakers fan said.

Another added: "He didn't want to be in LA. Don't think he ever even tried to give an effort after the trade fiasco."

"It really is the same DK. JJ was a hater and had him in solitary confinement," another fan wrote.

Knecht averaged 7.1 points per game as a Laker.

His early promise never fully materialized after the failed Hornets trade.

Bronny, meanwhile, has struggled to get on the court this season.

Through the Lakers' first eight games, Bronny has logged just 11 total minutes.

He appeared in four of those games, averaging 1.0 point per game on 2-for-3 shooting.

He has scored four total points this season.

The sample is tiny, but the pattern is not new: Bronny has yet to force his way into head coach JJ Redick's rotation.

This is Bronny's third season in the NBA.

He was drafted by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.

His father, LeBron James, played alongside him for his first two seasons.

LeBron left the Lakers over the offseason to join the Philadelphia 76ers.

With his father no longer on the roster, the protection that came with sharing a locker room is gone.

This season is less about whether Bronny can become a star and more about whether he can prove he belongs on an NBA roster on his own merit.

Former NBA player Kwame Brown recently criticized Bronny's place in the league.

"This is the (NBA), this ain't for the little boys and wimps," Brown said on his YouTube show "Kwame Brown Bust Life."

"It's mind blowing how somebody lost their job to (Bronny James). Some kid that worked their butt off, that really felt they could've made the NBA, they lost their job to (Bronny James). The only reason why everybody is okay with it is because of his father. This is a shame."

Brown was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft.

He played for the Lakers from 2005 to 2008.

Brown is widely regarded as one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history, averaging 6.6 points per game over 12 seasons.

Fans were quick to push back against Brown's criticism.

"One of the biggest busts in NBA history," one fan wrote.

"His only way to stay relevant is to bash LeBron," another fan said.

"Automatic ignore," a third fan posted.

Despite the backlash, Brown's argument has a concrete example: the Lakers waived Knecht and kept Bronny.

Knecht averaged 9.1 points as a rookie and showed promise as a shooter.

Bronny averaged 2.9 points per game across 42 appearances last season.

He shot 38.6% from three-point range, showing strides as an outside shooter.

But questions remain about his inconsistent offense and limited shot creation.

The Lakers are a team that needs win-now players.

Knecht is 26 years old and has proven he can contribute at the NBA level.