LeBron James expressed his frustration rather than showering praise on his Los Angeles Lakers.
His ire was directed at the 16 NBA teams that overlooked Dalton Knecht, who was selected as the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
“They didn’t find DK,” James remarked while standing by his locker after Knecht’s impressive showing in the Lakers’ 124-118 victory over Utah on Tuesday. “The other 16 teams f—– it up. Did anybody watch him? S—.”
Knecht lit up the scoreboard with 37 points, shooting 12-for-16, including a remarkable 9-for-12 from three-point range against the Jazz. His nine three-pointers matched the NBA single-game rookie record.
During a thrilling stretch, Knecht scored 21 consecutive points, captivating the audience at Crypto.com Arena. Lakers coach JJ Redick reminisced about his own experiences as a sharpshooter, likening Knecht’s performance to the rare moments when players like Stephen Curry find their rhythm.
Redick emphasized that players who can reach such heights create a heightened awareness among their teammates about their positioning on the court. He noted that Knecht possesses this skill, with teammates consistently tracking his movements.
The rookie’s potential appears boundless, particularly if he continues to enhance his defensive game and physical presence. In the previous matchup against New Orleans, Knecht scored 27 points on 10-for-17 shooting, including five three-pointers.
James recognized the talent of the 6-foot-6, 214-pound forward early on.
Last March, James mentioned Knecht during a media session, stating that he tuned into a game between Tennessee and Purdue specifically to watch him play. After the Lakers selected Knecht in the draft, James declared him his favorite collegiate player, second only to his son, Bronny, whom the Lakers picked at 55th overall.
“Everybody on the internet calls me a liar all the time,” said James, who recorded 26 points and 12 rebounds in the game. “… So, what am I now? I been said it. I watched him. I watched Tennessee a lot. I did not think he was going to fall to us. I thought it would be impossible. I have no idea how that happened. But I’m very grateful, and I’m very happy that he’s here. I knew exactly what we were getting when he fell to 17.”
Will Dalton Knecht emerge as the dependable outside shooter that LeBron James and Anthony Davis have long sought? (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Knecht is establishing his reputation early in his career. He is enjoying the moment, even mimicking Michael Jordan’s iconic shrug from the 1992 NBA Finals during his scoring spree on Tuesday.
The Lakers, with a record of 10-4, have now secured six consecutive wins, bolstered by James’ recent four-game triple-double streak and MVP-level performances from Davis. Most importantly, they have benefitted from the contributions of a rookie who slipped further than expected in the draft.
Despite initially being surprised by his draft position, Knecht now feels fortunate to have landed in such a promising situation.
“I did what I did in college,” he stated. “A lot of people said I was the best player. So when I did fall, it was all right because I landed in a great spot. I got to play with LeBron. I mean, who could say that? And then also AD, I went to a great franchise and I’m very blessed to be here.”
