Lakers Rookie Dalton Knecht shatters records with epic shooting performance

Dalton Knecht may be a rookie, but on Tuesday night, he stole the spotlight in Los Angeles. While the Lakers are known for their superstar talent, it was Knecht who had fans buzzing after an unforgettable performance against the Utah Jazz. Here's how the 24-year-old made history and showed he's ready to make a major impact for the Lakers this season.

No NBA team shines with star power quite like the Los Angeles Lakers. In a city defined by celebrity culture, fans have long witnessed the magic of legends like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James from courtside seats. But on Tuesday night, the spotlight shifted to a rising star: Dalton Knecht.
Knecht had a breakout performance, scoring 37 points on 12-of-16 shooting, including an impressive 9-of-12 from beyond the arc, leading the Lakers to a 124–118 win over the Utah Jazz. His nine three-pointers tied an NBA rookie record and were the second-most in Lakers history, just behind Kobe Bryant’s 12. Knecht is also the first Lakers rookie since Kyle Kuzma in 2017 to score at least 35 points in a game.
Knecht's confidence surged as the game went on. Early on, he capitalized on open shots as the Jazz focused on stars like LeBron and Davis. As Utah adjusted, Knecht responded with deeper shots, even pulling up off the dribble. After his seventh three, he gave a shrug that reflected both disbelief and confidence, reminiscent of Michael Jordan.
“You can’t leave him,” said Anthony Davis, recognizing the impact of Knecht’s shooting. “There’s a lot of sets that we can run and things that we can run … either to get him a shot or make guys think that he’s coming up in the shot. And now that kind of messes up their defensive rotation. But that always helps when you got shooters around. Me and Bron play in the post. Now you get that 1-on-1. It’s hard to double team.” (via: SI)
Drafted 17th overall this year after a standout senior season at Tennessee, where he was named SEC Player of the Year, Dalton Knecht’s journey to the NBA has been unconventional. Starting his career at Northeastern Junior College, the 6'1" guard worked his way up, eventually dominating the SEC. LeBron James even joked that the 16 teams who passed on Knecht “the other 16 teams [who passed on drafting Knecht] f---ed it up.”
While Knecht’s early NBA minutes were limited, he’s recently exploded onto the scene, averaging 24.3 points in 33 minutes over his last four games. His strong play earned him a starting role after Rui Hachimura’s injury.
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In today's NBA, three-point shooting is a game-changer, and Knecht’s sharpshooting is already opening up new possibilities for the Lakers' offense. With Davis and LeBron drawing attention inside, Knecht’s deep-range threat adds a new dimension, making the Lakers' offense even more dangerous. This rookie may just be the missing piece for a championship-caliber squad.