Dalton Knecht has quickly become a revelation for the Los Angeles Lakers, earning praise from his teammates and coaches for his scoring ability and poise. JJ Redick, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell recently opened up about how impactful Knecht has been for the team, highlighting his confidence, adaptability, and work ethic.
JJ Redick spoke highly of the Lakers’ decision to draft Dalton Knecht with the 17th pick, emphasizing the unique combination of skills he brings to the roster.
“You’re watching the picks and some of the picks that were in our range on our board, right, the guys that were listed on our board in our range went earlier which I think in some ways made decisions easier and then it became an issue of like, all right, well there’s two or three guys there we’re all confident that it’s gonna be this guy and then Dalton just remained unpicked, unselected.”
“So when he, you know, when Philly took McCain, it was like, all right, we’re taking Dalton. We were obviously very excited. And for us, I mean, we certainly want to continue to develop our young guys, and we place an emphasis on that.”
“But getting a guy with a 17th pick that can play right away with our group is huge. I don’t think any of us have to tell him to shoot the ball. He’s unflappable in that. He has a real high level of confidence in his shooting and scoring ability.”
“And in some ways, he’s like a goldfish. He really is. He’s able to just kind of move on. He can be one for eight, and he has confidence that the next shot is going in, which every great shooter does.”
“We have that same level of confidence in him as well. For A.D., Bron, our guys, they all trust him. Certainly as a coaching staff, we trust him as well as a shooter.”
D’Angelo Russell echoed similar sentiments, praising Knecht’s relentless drive.
“I think you just recognize those players in the league, guys that all they know is go. You know, and some guys are good at it, some guys aren’t.”
“He came right in good at just going. So I think for him to continue to expand on his game in the summertime and just keep working on your game through missing shots and making shots.”
Austin Reaves highlighted Knecht’s maturity, developed through his years in college, and his ability to adapt to various roles.
“I think if you’re a team that’s, you know, trying to win now and you’re not, you know, drafting off expectation, potential, you know, taking a guy that’s been in college for three to four years, that like you’ve said, has shown he can be the guy on a team, but also be a role player as well.”
“And I feel like that’s kind of what Dalton’s done in his career. So it’s a special journey for him. And like you said, he’s seen every coverage that you could possibly throw at him. And the other thing about him is, is mentally like, he’s a, he’s a goer.”
“Like, he wants to be challenged, you know, every time, you know, a coach comes at him with something, he likes that. Like, and he wants to, you know, be better defensively.”
“There’s been times this year where he’ll run to the best matchup and be like, I’m guarding him. I’m like, cool. So, but yeah, no, he’s just ultra competitive and when you challenge him to do something, he goes and does it. And you can tell by the way he scores the ball, his feel around the rim, athleticism.”
“There’s not just one way he can score. It’s not just a three. He can get downhill. He can score around the basket, get offensive rebounds. So he’s going to be very big for us this year.”
Coach Redick, D-Lo, and Austin Reaves on Dalton Knecht: pic.twitter.com/DgKZt0pdPW
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 19, 2024
Knecht’s performances this season back up the praise. Averaging 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting an efficient 48.4% from the field and 40.4% from beyond the arc, he has quickly become a key contributor. His recent performances against the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans have solidified his potential.
Against Memphis, Knecht came off the bench and exploded for 19 points on near-perfect shooting (7-8 from the field, 5-5 from three), leaving LeBron James impressed. In the following game against New Orleans, Knecht shined in his first start, scoring 27 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and adding 2 assists and 2 steals. His efficient 10-17 shooting, including 5-10 from deep, showcased his ability to perform under pressure.
Despite his success, Anthony Davis reportedly pushed Knecht even harder, knowing how high his ceiling could be. With his scoring versatility, confidence, and willingness to compete, Knecht is emerging as a vital piece for a Lakers team aiming for championship contention. His blend of talent and determination suggests that the rookie is only scratching the surface of his potential.
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