Since the Los Angeles Lakers haven’t brought in any players from other teams this offseason, there is quite a bit of a burden on rookie Dalton Knecht to emerge and help them out.
He was an outstanding sharpshooter in college, especially last season with the University of Tennessee. He also has shown some ability to create off the dribble, not just for himself but occasionally for teammates as well.
The Lakers’ official account on X (formerly Twitter) posted a video of Knecht letting fans get to know him a bit better. When asked how he would describe his game, he called it “fun to watch and must tune-in.”
He also named a couple of big-time NBA stars as players he has modeled his game after.
“I modeled my game after a couple people,” the wing said. “Kevin Durant’s the biggest one, and then I’d say Devin Booker and JJ Redick.”
Talking his journey to the NBA, Knecht 4, and his hobbies — Get to Know Dalton Knecht pic.twitter.com/TpDCRLjiHZ
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 24, 2024
It’s fitting he said he modeled his game after Redick, as Redick will now be his head coach with the Lakers. Redick, who had a 15-year NBA career as a deadly 3-point shooter, started drawing up plays for Knecht right after the Lakers drafted the latter, according to general manager Rob Pelinka.
Last season, Knecht averaged 21.7 points a game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 39.7% from 3-point range. He was named the SEC Player of the Year, and he scored at least 35 points six times in 36 games, which includes his 37-point effort in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament versus Purdue University.