The Los Angeles Lakers have decided to keep LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, on their roster. In a surprising move, they released first-round draft pick Dalton Knecht instead.
The Lakers announced on Tuesday that they would retain Bronny James while parting ways with Knecht.
With 16 players on their roster, the Lakers faced a deadline to trim it down to 15 by the day before the 2026-27 National Basketball Association (NBA) season opener.
While both Bronny James and Knecht were considered potential cuts, the Lakers ultimately chose to release Knecht, allowing Bronny to secure his spot on the team.
Knecht, the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, had shown promise early on. He averaged an impressive 18.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, while shooting a remarkable 52.2% from beyond the arc in his first nine appearances.
However, Knecht’s impact waned as the season progressed. He finished his rookie year averaging 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds across 78 games, including 16 starts. His role diminished further in the 2025-26 season, where he appeared in 54 games (starting just one) and averaged a mere 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds.
ESPN reports that the Lakers had attempted to package Knecht with another player in a trade for a center, but the deal fell through.
Bronny James, selected 55th overall in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, has played 69 games over two seasons, posting modest averages of 2.7 points and 1.1 assists.
The Lakers are set to tip off their new season against the Golden State Warriors on October 22 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
