NBA analyst believes Dalton Knecht's Rookie of the Year Award prospects are in jeopardy for one key reason 

Dalton Knecht has been making waves in the NBA with his impressive performance, particularly his 45.0% 3-point shooting average. However, despite his remarkable start to his career in the league, Zach Kram of The Ringer believes his age might be a significant obstacle in his pursuit of the Rookie of the Year Award.

"First things first: Knecht — who played five seasons across three different college stints, thanks to the extra year granted to athletes affected by COVID cancellations — is very old for a prospect. ... History suggests that, despite his hot start, Knecht doesn’t have anywhere near the upside of many of those players," Zach Kram wrote.

The LA Lakers rookie sensation at 23 years old is considered relatively old for a rookie. Historical data suggests that players drafted at this age tend to have lower ceilings than their younger counterparts.

Dalton Knecht has been impressive. He drew praise from teammate LeBron James after his career-high 37 points against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 19.

"They didn't 'find' DK," James said. "The other 16 teams f**ked it up. Did anybody watch him? S**t. They just didn't f**k it up. You don't 'find' a SEC Player of the Year."

The 2024 NBA draft's 17th pick has been box office in his last six games for the Purple and Gold. He averaged 20.5 points per game and made 59.5% of his 3-point shots in that time frame.

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How has Dalton Knecht fared so far in his rookie season

When the season started, Dalton Knecht, like every other rookie playing for a team not in rebuilding mode, had to contend for a place on the bench. He then forced his way into the starting five after an injury to Rui Hachimura opened up a spot for him.

His best outing was against the Utah Jazz as he tied the NBA single-game rookie record with nine 3-pointers. He ended the game with a career-high 37 points as the LA Lakers won 124-118.

NBA: Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers - Source: Imagn

While it's undeniable that he got drafted relatively late, the former Southeastern Conference Player of the Year showing what he is capable of on the court. He is averaging 11.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and shooting 51.5%, including 45.0% beyond the arc.