In the latest NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers secured one of the standout players from last college season, picking Dalton Knecht in Wednesday’s first round. While the selection itself was celebrated within the organization, the Lakers’ social media team experienced a minor mishap in their excitement to share the news.
After drafting Knecht, the team’s official social media account retweeted a message that was seemingly from Knecht himself, expressing his elation. The tweet read, “WOW, this is surreal man. Thank you so much Laker nation for welcoming me with open arms. My favorite hooper ever was Kobe Bean Bryant and it’s an honor to wear the same jersey as him.”
However, it soon became apparent that the account was not actually Knecht’s but a fan account pretending to be him, described as a “muse account for the 6’6″ SF for the Los Angeles Lakers.”
Despite this oversight, the sentiment within the Lakers organization remains overwhelmingly positive about the addition of Knecht.
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Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka expressed his satisfaction, stating, “In my mind, there is no way a player like this would be available for us to pick on draft night.
Across the board, just couldn’t be happier.” Pelinka even mentioned that had the Lakers held the No. 10 pick instead of No. 17, Knecht would still have been their choice.
Knecht has also received endorsements from significant figures within the team. New head coach JJ Redick and Lakers superstar LeBron James have both acknowledged Knecht’s potential and impact, especially highlighted during Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament run, which they discussed on their podcast, “Mind the Game.”
Post-draft, Knecht shared his enthusiasm about joining such a storied franchise and playing alongside top talents like Anthony Davis and LeBron James. “It’s going to be fun just to be sharing that court with both of them, [AD] and Bron,” Knecht stated. “Bron’s one of the greatest. So, it’s going to be real special.”
Reflecting on his journey to the NBA, Knecht recounted how the lack of Division I offers out of high school fueled his determination. “Every time I touch a basketball or walk into a gym, I always feel like I got something to prove; and it doesn’t matter where I’m at, it’s always going to be there,” he explained. This mindset, he says, will be a driving force throughout his career, continually pushing him to demonstrate his worth and contribute to the Lakers’ success.
