Rookie Watch Vol. 10: How Did Dalton Knecht Fall to No. 17? Plus Other Rookie Highlights

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe dissected some of the most intriguing rookie performances. They kicked things off by breaking down Dalton Knecht's stunning 37-point explosion against the Utah Jazz, raising the question of how he fell to the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The brothers explored whether teams might regret passing on Knecht due to concerns about his age. In the second segment, the debate over Stephon Castle’s long-term projection continued, with Rafael and James once again offering differing perspectives on his development. They also highlighted Kyle Filipowski’s unexpected impact, noting how his production has forced the Jazz to carve out minutes for him. Later, they discussed Tidjane Salaun’s breakout performance, marking the best game of his young NBA career. The episode wrapped up with a look at Jared McCain’s continued stellar play, which has positioned him as the early frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. Finally, they discussed Zaccharie Risacher’s bounce-back performance against the Kings, as he shook off a cold streak where he missed 18 of 19 three-point attempts after an earlier game where he drained six triples against the Knicks. 

Dalton Knecht - 2:53 

Stephon Castle - 12:18 

Kyle Filipowski - 16:20 

Tidjane Salaun - 23:08 

Jared McCain - 26:41 

Zaccharie Risacher - 32:49