LeBron James has been very impressed with how
Dalton Knecht has been performing for the Lakers. The
Los Angeles Lakers secured their sixth consecutive victory on Tuesday night, defeating the Utah Jazz 124-118 at Crypto.com Arena in a thrilling NBA Cup group-play game. Rookie guard Dalton Knecht emerged as the star of the night, delivering a historic performance that showcased his scoring prowess and potential as a rising NBA talent.
Knecht poured in a
career-high 37 points, tying the NBA's single-game rookie record with nine three-pointers. His remarkable showing drew praise from teammates and fans alike, solidifying his place as a key contributor to the Lakers’ recent success. During a scorching third quarter,
Knecht drained six three-pointers and celebrated with a move reminiscent of basketball legend Michael Jordan.
"Rui [Hachimura] was talking to me about I need to get a three-point celebration," Knecht explained.
"I didn't know what to do. So, I just gave the shrug." LeBron James, a vocal supporter of Knecht, did not hold back when addressing the teams that passed on the rookie during the draft.
"They [The Lakers front office] didn't find DK [Lakers guard Dalton Knecht]. The other 16 teams f***ed it up," James remarked.
"Anybody watch him? S**t! They just didn't f**k it up. You don't 'find' a SEC player of the year." Drafted 17th overall by the Lakers in June, Knecht came to the team with an impressive college resume. As a Tennessee Volunteer, he averaged 21.7 points per game, led the SEC in scoring, and was named the SEC Player of the Year. His ability to score from beyond the arc and his aggressive style have translated seamlessly to the NBA. Over the past four games, Knecht has averaged 24.2 points and 5.2 made three-pointers while maintaining shooting accuracy of 54 percent or higher.
LeBron, who closely followed Knecht's college career, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play alongside him.
"I thought it would be impossible. I have no idea how it happened. But very grateful and very happy that he's here. I knew exactly what we was getting when he fell to 17."Also read:
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