Did Bronny James’ future path just change as a result of the Lakers’ unexpected Dalton Knecht pick?
A stunning turn of events gave the Los Angeles Lakers an amazingly unexpected opportunity in the 2024 NBA draft on Wednesday night. Dalton Knecht, widely viewed as a top-10-quality draft pick, slid all the way to No. 17 in the first round. Pat Riley and the Miami Heat passed on him at No. 15. Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers passed on him at No. 16. The Lakers were able to scoop up Knecht at pick No. 17, a tremendous pick and a remarkable stroke of good fortune for Rob Pelinka, new coach J.J. Redick, and LeBron James. Now, the big question emerges: With the Lakers unexpectedly getting Knecht, a wing player who offers quality shooting, will the NBA franchise still take Bronny James if he is available at pick No. 55 in Thursday’s second round, as most people expect he will be?
Bronny James has become such a point of fascination in this NBA draft because all the details of his situation make him one of the most unusual and exceptional draft-day stories in recent NBA memory. We’ll find out soon enough if Dalton Knecht alters the calculus for the Lakers at the NBA draft.
Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht is drafted by the Lakers in the first-round.
The NBA draft is being held Wednesday and Thursday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Former Tennessee basketball player Dalton Knecht was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first-round (No. 17 overall) on Wednesday.
Knecht transferred to Tennessee from Northern Colorado ahead of the 2023-24 basketball campaign. In his only season with eligibility at Tennessee, he averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest.
Knecht guided the Vols to a Southeastern Conference regular-season championship. Tennessee also advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for the second time in school history.
Tristan da Silva is one of the most intriguing players in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published June 20, 2024.
Colorado Buffaloes forward Tristan da Silva is a versatile forward whose shooting and basketball IQ will make him a fascinating player in the pros.
He was one of the breakout stars during March Madness, helping to lead his team to multiple victories in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Now, he looks to bring many of those skills he displayed during the Big Dance to the pros.
It wasn’t just a brief hot streak during the postseason that help him elevate his draft stock, though. After averaging 16.0 points and 5.1 rebounds with 2.4 assists per game while shooting 39.5 percent on 3-pointers, he was named Second-Team All-Pac-12 last season.
Although he isn’t necessarily going to jump out of the gym or blow anyone away with his speed, da Silva elaborated on the beautiful simplicity to his game during a recent interview with For The Win .
“I’m someone who goes out there and gets the job done,” da Silva said. “I have athleticism and I’m much more athletic than people think I am. But it’s just my smooth play style and my shot selection isn’t to try to dunk on people every single play.”
Da Silva also played soccer, which is how he developed a lot of the footwork that he uses on the basketball court.
He added that growing up in Germany, he was inspired by his brother, former Stanford forward Oscar da Silva. He said his father, a former Brazilian pro boxer, was an inspiration for him as well.
“My brother plays in the EuroLeague for Barcelona. He was the reason why I started playing basketball,” da Silva explained. “My dad being the athlete that he is, he lived the lifestyle that you should be living as an athlete. He’s a big part of my habits.”
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Watch Episode 4 of Prospect Park, a video series featuring future NBA players brought to you by USA TODAY Sports and For The Win:
What should NBA teams know about you?
The consistency aspect is definitely a part of it. I would say definitely my versatility is something that’s kind of unique at my size, being able to play multiple positions and multiple actions from different situations and guarding twos, threes and fours, being able to switch on to guards and stuff like that. The experience that I bring as well. Offensively and defensively, I’ve been playing this game for a long time now.
How do you describe your style of play?
I’m an IQ player. I like to keep it simple as much as possible and get myself going and get other people going through easy baskets, just doing the right thing, making the right plays. Playing multiple positions helps with that because you know the game from different angles. I can create for myself and I can create for others. I’m really just out there playing, making the right reads. I can stretch the floor. My shooting is very appealing to NBA teams. So those are some of the things that are key to my game.
How will your range help you in the NBA?
That’s essential in today’s game, being able to shoot the ball and space the floor. It opens up so much in the game. I’m aware of that. Teams are aware of that. So I feel like that is a huge part of how I can contribute to teams. It’s not the only way, of course, but it definitely helps to get my foot in the door and get out there and contribute. I’ve been working on it. That’s why I brought up the consistency aspect to make sure I’m reliable within the range that we’re working in new with different basketballs and different spacing.
I’d love to hear more about your passing
I’ve been doing it. As soon as I get to the next level where if you get an open shot, it’s a higher chance of going, that’s going to increase my numbers from an assist standpoint. I’m able to find the open guy. I’m able to find the little advantages and keep those advantages and make the high IQ plays. It’s going to make my life a little easier because I’m going to be playing with people who know how to play and kind of think the same way I think. I feel like this next step is going to give me the opportunity to showcase it even more.
What do you like to do off the court? I’ve heard you speak five languages.
I don’t know about the five languages, to be honest. I do speak German. I do speak English. My Portuguese is just what I know from being raised by my dad and spending summers in Brazil. I also learned French and Spanish in school. I wouldn’t necessary say I’m fluent in either of those two. I did play the trumpet for about seven to eight years. I played in two orchestras. I did a musical. I played in school band. It was really fun. I kind of miss it. I’m probably going to pick that up once I get my own little place set up and all this grind is over. I do the regular stuff everybody else does. I keep myself busy. I’m reading some German thrillers right now. I watch shows obviously. I play a little games to keep my mind off whatever. I don’t listen to much classical music. I like playing classical music. Every now and then, when I crave it or when I want to listen to it, I’ll put it on when I’m feeling artsy. But it’s not part of my playlist.
UFC champ Leon Edwards thinks Belal Muhammad is in over his head.
UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] is in over his head.
Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) defends his title in a rematch vs. Muhammad (23-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) in the UFC 304 headliner July 27 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. Both Edwards and Muhammad are on double-digit unbeaten runs. The lone asterisk in their streak is a no contest against each other in March 2021 – a fight that was ruled a no contest after Edwards inadvertently poked Muhammad in the eye and rendered him unable to continue.
Muhammad has made some bold claims ahead of their rematch, but Edwards isn’t sure where he’s getting his confidence from.
“Deluded, he’s talking a lot of sh*t, so make sure you can back it up,” Edwards told Red Corner MMA. “Like I said, he’s been off over a year. The way he talks is like he was winning the first fight, so a bit deluded. But like I said, he best be ready. It’s going to be a long, hard, tough fight for him in Manchester.”
In their first fight, Edwards was able to stumble Muhammad early, winning Round 1 on all three of the judges’ scorecards. The eye poke happened just 18 seconds into Round 2, and Muhammad is adamant that their first fight can’t be indicative of how things would have played out.
But Edwards thinks otherwise.
“Like I said, the fight, Round 1 went my way comfortably,” Edwards said. “I was just getting started, and then the eye poke happened. Obviously hurt him in the first round. I feel like he’ll just be too slow for me. Too slow, too predictable, too flat footed. So, let’s see.”
The rivals will meet with a trophy on the line in the two-leg series
Tigres and Monterrey will face off in the first leg of the Campeón de Campeones Femenil on Thursday night.
The two rivals will meet over two legs, as Tigres looks to win the competition for the third time and Rayadas aim for their first victory.
The Campeón de Campeones sees the winner of the Apertura and Clausura face off, with Tigres winning the Apertura in 2023 and Monterrey winning the Clausura last month.
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The two-leg series serves as the kickoff to the 2024 Apertura campaign, which both teams will begin on July 7.
After Thursday’s first leg, the rivals will move across town for the second leg at the Estadio Universitario on Monday.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the match.
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After intending to re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets for four years and $100 million, center Nic Claxton posted a message on his Instagram.
The Brooklyn Nets have been making noise prior to the 2024 NBA Draft and it wasn’t because of them trading for any picks in the Draft. One day after trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, Brooklyn took care of business with free-agent center Nic Claxton, who had something to say after re-signing.
After reports of Claxton intending to re-sign with the Nets on a four-year, $100 million deal, he posted on his Instagram story that he knows who he is. The post did not make it clear what he was referring to in terms of knowing who he is, but one thing he can know is that he will be a more wealthy man on a well-deserved deal.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Claxton’s deal will include $96 million guaranteed, the second-highest amount of the team after Simmons’ $177.2 million guaranteed at signing, even though he signed that contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Claxton appears to be part of the Nets’ rebuild and his contract is not to the point where Brooklyn couldn’t trade him if they needed to do so at a later point in time.
What Claxton’s post does allude to is the fact that he carries a chip on his shoulder after not winning the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award in either of the past two seasons. Claxton has spoken about being snubbed a few times over the past couple of seasons, but at least he wasn’t passed over in terms of his contract demands.
In 2023-24, Claxton averaged 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 62.9% from the field and 55.1% from the free-throw line. Despite having similar defensive stats that he had during the 2022-23 season, Claxton did not receive any votes for the Defensive Player of the Year award or the All-Defensive teams.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ohio State fans were crowing because one of its commits, edge rusher London Merritt, won a rep against Michigan football commit, offensive lineman Avery Gach.
But one rep does not a camp make, just like one rep does not a game make.
Based on the entire body of his work, the Birmingham (Mich.) Groves four-star offensive lineman shined in the Rivals Five-Star Camp, which featured some of the best recruits in the 2025 class. And once it was all said and done, when the Rivals brass had to choose the best of the best, it was Gach who won offensive line MVP honors.
“Gach came into the event as one of the more unknown prospects because we haven’t seen him much at national events. He showed up big by winning offensive line MVP. The Michigan commit is… pic.twitter.com/ovEHKnU93V
Rivals’ Greg Smith had very positive things to say about Gach:
“Gach came into the event as one of the more unknown prospects because we haven’t seen him much at national events. He showed up big by winning offensive line MVP. The Michigan commit is strong at the point of attack and once he got his hands on opposing defenders the rep was over. Gach was also very athletic and even competed in the fastest man competition. He’s in line for a very nice bump in the next rankings update.”
Gach was joined by Ohio State QB commit Tavien St. Clair, LSU RB commit Harlem Berry, IMG Academy WR Donovan Olugbode, 2026 DT Deuce Geralds, and LB Riley Pettijohn in having won position MVP honors.
The Philadelphia 76ers took former Duke basketball star Jared McCain with the 16th pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday night.
Former Duke basketball star [autotag]Jared McCain[/autotag] fulfilled a dream on Wednesday night when the Philadelphia 76ers took him with the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
McCain, who attended the draft in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center, strode across the stage and got to shake NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s hand at the podium with a team hat atop his head.
As a freshman with the Blue Devils last season, McCain put together three 30-point games en route to averaging 14.3 points per game. Despite being 6-foot-3, he also averaged 5.0 rebounds per game and pulled down at least 10 rebounds in six different games.
After a rough start to his debut season in Durham, averaging 7.6 points per game through his first eight appearances, scouts raved over the improvement McCain showed by the end of the season. He averaged 16.2 points per game across the last 28 games, including two 30-point games in the NCAA Tournament as the Blue Devils reached the Elite Eight.
McCain now gets to play alongside 7-foot star Joel Embiid, who won the NBA MVP award in 2022-23 before dealing with injuries last season. The Sixers also have Tyrese Maxey, a former Kentucky star who won the Most Improved Player award last season.
McCain now helps Philadelphia in a quest to reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in the Embiid era.
The Philadelphia 76ers will select Duke point guard Jared McCain with the No. 16 overall pick.
The Philadelphia 76ers are set to begin a very important offseason and it began with Round 1 of the NBA draft on Wednesday. The Sixers, owners of the No. 16 pick, were expected to move the pick as they were expected to add a win-now player.
However, a trade did not come to fruition and they made a selection at No. 16. The Sixers will select Duke point guard Jared McCain out of Duke. A scorer in the ACC, he averaged 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 41.4% from deep on 5.8 attempts per game in the 2023-24 season. He is somebody who can provide spacing for the second unit and the Sixers will rely on his shooting ability.
Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxey in the same backcourt 🔥
It will be interesting to see what the Sixers do the rest of the way. While McCain makes a lot of sense due to their needs, he will need development before he becomes a regular NBA contributor at this stage of his young career. With free agency around the corner, one has to assume the Sixers will be one of the more active teams in the league.
Buzelis had a lot of people to thank for his journey as a basketball player so far. At the top of that list though? His haters.
Matas Buzelis didn’t have to wait long on Wednesday night to hear NBA commissioner Adam Silver read his name off during the 2024 Draft.
And when Buzelis was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 11th overall pick, he got emotional, and reasonably so considering the 6-foot-10 G-League Ignite product grew up in the Windy City and went to Hinsdale Central – less than 22 miles away from the Bulls’ arena.
Those emotions continued on for Buzelis as a smile grew across his face when he put on a Bulls hat and went to go shake Silver’s hand. And then he let some tears flow as ESPN’s Monica McNutt interviewed him.
Buzelis had a lot of people to thank for his journey as a basketball player so far. At the top of that list though? His haters.
"I don't gotta say nothing, thank you to everyone who ever doubted me" -Matas Buzelis pic.twitter.com/v3Jl3d4HSC
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 27, 2024
“Thank you to everyone that doubted me, because I wouldn’t be here without y’all. I just use it as fuel.”
Pretty soon, we’ll get to see if Buzelis can continue to prove doubters wrong in a Bulls uniform.
