The Los Angeles Lakers continued their winning ways on Tuesday night, notching their sixth consecutive victory with a hard-fought 124-118 win over the Utah Jazz at the Crypto.com Arena. The game was powered by a breakout performance from rookie guard Dalton Knecht, whose impressive showing had the Lakers faithful buzzing.
Knecht, a standout from the University of Tennessee, delivered a career-high 37 points, draining nine three-pointers to tie the league’s single-game rookie record. His outstanding play came during an NBA Cup group-play game, solidifying his position as one of the most exciting young talents in the league. The Lakers’ victory was not just a testament to their overall team effort but also to the confidence they have placed in Knecht, who is quickly proving to be a valuable asset.
Following the game, Lakers superstar LeBron James had a pointed message for the 16 teams that passed on Knecht during the 2024 NBA Draft. James, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, delivered an expletive-laden response that left no doubt about how he felt regarding the overlooked talent.
“They [the Lakers front office] didn’t ‘find’ DK [Dalton Knecht]. The other 16 teams f—ed it up,” James said with a wry smile. “Anybody watch him? S–t! They just didn’t f–k it up. You don’t ‘find’ an SEC Player of the Year.”
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Knecht, 23, was selected by the Lakers with the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, after an incredible college season that saw him average 21.7 points and 2.6 made three-pointers per game for the Tennessee Volunteers.
His stellar performance earned him First-Team All-America honors, the SEC scoring title, and the title of SEC Player of the Year, accolades that made it clear Knecht was a force to be reckoned with. For James, it was surprising that a player of Knecht’s caliber slipped as far as he did in the draft.
In recent games, Knecht has become even more aggressive in hunting his shot. Over the past four games, he has averaged 24.2 points per game, along with 5.2 made three-pointers, all while shooting 54 percent or better from the field in each contest.
His confidence and ability to knock down big shots have been crucial to the Lakers’ ongoing success.
However, Tuesday night’s performance against the Jazz was Knecht’s best game as a professional. His shooting was electric, and the energy in the arena was palpable, especially during a red-hot third quarter in which he drained six three-pointers.
In the midst of his impressive display, Knecht even paid tribute to one of the greatest players in NBA history—Michael Jordan—by breaking out the iconic Jordan shrug after one of his successful shots.
“Rui [Hachimura] was talking to me about how I need to get a three-point celebration,” Knecht said after the game. “I didn’t know what to do. So, I just gave the shrug.” The moment was a throwback to Michael Jordan’s memorable shrug during the 1992 NBA Finals, and it perfectly encapsulated the kind of night Knecht was having—one where everything seemed to be falling in his favor.
LeBron James, who has been a fan of Knecht since his college days, could only offer a knowing shrug when asked what he sees in his rookie teammate now.
“I don’t know,” James said, smiling. “The same s–t I said last year. Everybody on the internet calls me a liar all the time. They say I lie about every f—ing thing. So, what am I now? I’ve been saying it. I watched Tennessee a lot. I watched Tennessee a lot. I did not think he was going to fall to us.”
James continued, “I thought it would be impossible. I have no idea how it happened. But I’m very grateful and very happy that he’s here. I knew exactly what we were getting when he fell to 17.”
Knecht’s emergence has provided the Lakers with a much-needed spark, and his chemistry with his teammates, especially James, is apparent.
The young guard has seamlessly integrated into the lineup, showing a maturity and poise beyond his years. As the Lakers continue their winning streak, the addition of Knecht and his fearless approach to the game has given them yet another weapon in their pursuit of success.
With each game, Knecht is proving why he was deserving of more attention during the draft process. For now, he’s just focused on helping the Lakers win, and with LeBron James in his corner, the sky seems to be the limit for the talented rookie.
