The Los Angeles Lakers were thrilled to grab Dalton Knecht with the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Once a standout at Tennessee and named SEC Player of the Year, Knecht drew admiration from LeBron James, who’s now overjoyed to call him a teammate. LeBron praised Knecht’s shooting, athleticism, height, and overall demeanor, expressing surprise and excitement that the Lakers managed to snag him.
Knecht’s journey to the NBA included two years in junior college and another two at Northern Colorado, before a dominant final season at Tennessee where he averaged 21.7 points and 4.9 rebounds, shooting nearly 40% from three-point range. His fearless scoring against tough opponents made him a standout, and now his focus will be on development under the Lakers’ coaching staff, forming an exciting piece around LeBron.
However, Knecht and Bronny James faced struggles in their Summer League debut at the California Classic against the Sacramento Kings. Knecht totaled 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting, while Bronny managed four points off 2-of-9 shooting. Despite the rough start, fans are eager to see how these rookies develop throughout the season.
