Knecht Scores First Knicks Bucket vs. Bulls
Dalton Knecht, on a two-way deal after time with the Lakers, finished a putback dunk in his first Knicks basket against Chicago.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball
Dalton Knecht scored his first New York Knicks bucket with a putback dunk against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. The Knicks waived Kevin McCullar Jr. to make roster space for Knecht.
Why it matters
Knecht's path from a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers to a two-way deal with the Knicks reflects how quickly roster roles can shift in the NBA. For New York fans, the move shows the team adjusting its depth during the early season.
Knecht is 25 years old and was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024 NBA draft before joining New York on a two-way deal. The source does not report his minutes, shooting line, or other box-score totals from the game.
The players
Dalton Knecht
Knecht is a 25-year-old forward who was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024 NBA draft and later signed a two-way deal with the New York Knicks.
Kevin McCullar Jr.
McCullar Jr. is a player whom the New York Knicks waived to create roster space for Dalton Knecht.
The details
Knecht soared for the putback after teammate Landry Shamet missed a three-point attempt in the first half, and Chicago left him unguarded because no defender boxed him out. His time with the Lakers had greatly diminished before the team sent him to the G League and later waived him in October.
Timeline
2024: Lakers select Knecht in the first round of the NBA draft.
2025 NBA trade deadline: A trade that would have sent Knecht to the Charlotte Hornets fails.
October: Lakers waive Knecht, and he later signs a two-way deal with the Knicks.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Knecht scores his first Knicks bucket against the Bulls at Madison Square Garden.
Between the Lines
Knecht's path from the failed Hornets trade through the G League to a Knicks two-way deal shows how mid-season reshuffling can give a reserve forward a new role. The move reflects the NBA's practice of using two-way contracts to fill depth around a fixed roster.
Knecht's new role gives Knicks fans a reserve to watch in the rotation, and his minutes will determine how much he contributes to the team's depth. The waiver of McCullar Jr. also changes the bench mix that fans see from night to night.
The takeaway
A mid-season trade attempt, a G League assignment and a waiver can reshape an NBA player's future quickly, and the Knicks' move shows how two-way deals can fill depth. Fans watching New York's bench should expect roles to keep shifting as the season unfolds.
Further reading
For more on how the team is shaping its rotation, see Basketball coverage across New York City.
