Tag: Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron thinks not drafting Dalton Knecht means that 16 other NBA teams ‘[expletive] up’

Knecht looks even better than expected.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht just had his best game as a pro, recording 37 points against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.

It was an outstanding effort from the former Tennessee star, who was also 9-of-12 on 3-pointers during the win over the Jazz in NBA Cup play. That tied a league record for most 3-pointers ever made by a rookie, which is no small accomplishment.

When asked about how the Lakers were able to find Knecht, it didn’t take long for LeBron James to admit exactly what happened. Los Angeles didn’t exactly “discover” some secret talent with Knecht.

Instead, according to LeBron, the other 16 teams that did not pick him in the 2024 NBA Draft “[expletive] it up” and he then wondered if any of the talent evaluators and decision makers watched him play.

Knecht, who was named SEC Player of the Year and won the Julius Erving Award for the best small forward in the nation, was simply available when the Lakers were on the clock.

That serendipity worked out perfectly for Los Angeles, who now have a 23-year-old sharpshooter ready to inject life into a team coached by JJ Redick.

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Dalton Knecht ties rookie record in Lakers’ win versus Utah

Dalton Knecht scores career-high for points in NBA Cup game against Utah.

Los Angeles (10-4) defeated Utah, 124-118, on Tuesday in the NBA Cup at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Former Vol Dalton Knecht started and scored a career-high 37 points. He also totaled five rebounds and one steal in 38 minutes against the Jazz.

Knecht converted 12-of-16 field goal attempts, 9-of-12 three-point attempts and 4-of-5 field goal attempts. His nine 3-point field goals tied an NBA single-game rookie record.

The former Vol was selected in the first-round of the 2024 NBA draft (No. 17 overall) by Los Angeles.

Knecht was a transfer from Northern Colorado and played for the Vols during the 2023-24 season under coach Rick Barnes. During his one season at Tennessee, Knecht averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

He led the Vols to a SEC regular-season championship and an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history.

Knecht was the 2024 SEC Player and SEC Newcomer of the Year. He was a consensus All-America standout and earned the Julius Erving Award.

Paul George’s complaints about the Lakers doubling him showcases the heart of the 76ers’ problems

Paul George’s loser mentality about getting doubled sums up the 76ers’ issues.

The Philadelphia 76ers entered this season as one of the presumed NBA title contender heavyweights. Instead, at the time of this writing, they are just 2-11, with Tyrese Maxey openly calling out Joel Embiid’s lacking leadership in a recent team meeting. Woof.

But in case you thought Embiid was the 76ers’ only issue, it sure seems like they might have a Paul George problem, too.

In a snippet from a recent episode of George’s podcast, Podcast P with Paul George, George openly complains about JJ Reddick telling the Los Angeles Lakers to double-team him during a 116-108 win over the 76ers on Friday, November 8.

Why was George frustrated by the double-team strategy?

Because, and I’m not making this up, George said he was still on a minutes restriction from an early-season injury. He didn’t appreciate the extra-hard competition because he was concerned about getting back into a good rhythm and flow rather than seeing his life on the court get more strenuous against a team trying to, you know, win.

C’mon, man. That’s a loser mentality if I’ve ever heard it:

Honestly, what did George expect? Both Embiid and starting point guard Tyrese Maxey didn’t play in that game against the Lakers. So of course George — a nine-time All-Star — will get double-teamed to ideally get the ball out of his hands. Los Angeles owes absolutely nothing to George’s or the 76ers’ vision for his injury recovery.

The Lakers are trying to win a game. Period.

And George complaining about it after the fact is very telling about his mindset. Based on the laughing emoji in his podcast’s promotional tweet for the snippet, you can assume he thinks that saying this in public is funny and “viral,” too. (Hey, it worked to get this article out there, didn’t it? Just probably not what George intended).

Buddy, admitting you were bothered by an opposing team taking you seriously because you didn’t want to compete that hard is a problem in any context. Especially when your team is nine games under .500 in mid-November. Now was not the time for that kind of humor. No one was going to laugh.

Because the 76ers reside in the miserable Eastern Conference, all their dreams of a good season with their new big three remain intact.

But when I see their MVP-caliber center getting called out by teammates only a few weeks into the year, followed by another supposed team “leader” complaining about competition, I feel pretty comfortable asserting they won’t turn anything around.

Jonnu Smith says Dolphins teammate is ‘LeBron James of the NFL’

“The guy is 1,000 years old and playing like he’s 21.”

LeBron James will turn 40 next month, but the NBA legend’s production on the court doesn’t show it. The Los Angeles Lakers star is averaging 23.3 points, 9.2 assists, and 8.6 rebounds per game so far in his 22nd career season.

Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith says there’s a player on his team that has managed similar age-defying play.

“Calais [Campbell] is one of my favorite teammates in all the sports I’ve played,” Smith said Monday during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “He’s like the LeBron James of the NFL right now. As far as his age and the production that he brings to the game, still playing at a high level. The guy is 1,000 years old and playing like he’s 21.

“The best leader I’ve been around. Good dude, good person, deserves everything that’s coming to him.”

Campbell, 38, recorded his fourth sack of the 2024 season in a 34-19 win against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. It brought his career total to 109.5, moving him into a tie for 29th all-time. With two more sacks, he’d pass fellow future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald for 28th.

The Dolphins signed Campbell to a one-year, $2 million contract in the offseason. In August, he revealed it was “the cheapest offer” he received “by a large margin,” but he took the deal because he believed in the team.

When the Dolphins spiraled to a 2-6 start to the year, they reportedly received calls from other teams looking to acquire Campbell before the midseason trade deadline. But Miami spurned those offers to keep the 17th-year defensive lineman.

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Los Angeles Lakers salaries on steroids: Team and player finances in detail

If the Los Angeles Lakers salary page on HoopsHype leaves you wanting more, here’s additional information about teams’ and players’ finances, from career earnings to how money is allocated in present and future payroll in terms of age of position, …

If the Los Angeles Lakers salary page on HoopsHype leaves you wanting more, here’s additional information about teams’ and players’ finances, from career earnings to how money is allocated in present and future payroll in terms of age of position, and more.

Dalton Knecht scores career-high 27 points against New Orleans

Dalton Knecht scores career-high 27 points as Los Angeles defeats New Orleans.

Los Angeles (9-4) defeated New Orleans (4-10), 104-99, Saturday at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Former Tennessee basketball player Dalton Knecht made his third NBA start for the Lakers. He totaled a career-high 27 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in 37 minutes against the Pelicans.

Knecht converted 10-of-17 field goal attempts, 5-of-10 3-point attempts and 2-of-2 free throw attempts.

He was selected in the first-round of the 2024 NBA draft (No. 17 overall) by Los Angeles.

Knecht was a transfer from Northern Colorado and played for the Vols during the 2023-24 season under coach Rick Barnes. During his one season at Tennessee, Knecht averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

He led the Vols to a SEC regular-season championship and an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history.

Knecht was the 2024 SEC Player and SEC Newcomer of the Year. He was a consensus All-America standout and earned the Julius Erving Award.

Dalton Knecht makes second start for Lakers

Former Vol Dalton Knecht scores 14 points in second NBA start.

Los Angeles (8-4) defeated San Antonio (6-7), 120-115, Friday in the second annual NBA Cup at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Former Tennessee basketball player Dalton Knecht made his second start for the Lakers. He totaled 14 points and three rebounds in 26 minutes against the Spurs.

Knecht converted 6-of-11 field goal attempts and 2-of-4 three-point attempts.

He was selected in the first-round of the 2024 NBA draft (No. 17 overall) by Los Angeles.

Knecht, a transfer from Northern Colorado, played for the Vols during the 2023-24 season under coach Rick Barnes. During his one season at Tennessee, he averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

He led the Vols to a SEC regular-season championship and an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history.

Knecht was the 2024 SEC Player and SEC Newcomer of the Year. He was a consensus All-America standout and earned the Julius Erving Award.

How is JJ Redick’s first season as the Los Angeles Lakers head coach going?

With the NBA season in full swing, here’s a weekly check on JJ Redick’s first season as the Los Angeles Lakers head coach.

[autotag]JJ Redick[/autotag]’s first season as an NBA head coach is off to a sound start.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Los Angeles Lakers have a 7-4 record to sit sixth in the Western Conference standings.

Redick and the Lakers have taken down some impressive teams early in the season as well. Los Angeles opened the 2024-25 calendar with a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, a Western Conference finalist last season, as part of a 3-0 start. The Lakers also took down perennial playoff teams like the Phoenix Suns and the Memphis Grizzlies, the latter of whom they beat just on Wednesday night.

Four-time NBA champion LeBron James, at age 39, has still played a major role for Redick’s team. James finished the Memphis win with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists for his third straight triple-double, and the legend is averaging 24.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 9.4 assists through 11 games.

The Lakers finished with a 47-35 record in 2023-24, so the real test for Redick will come in the postseason, but Duke’s all-time leading scorer looks like anything but a disaster as he settles into his new position.

Dalton Knecht scores career-high 19 points against Memphis

Former Vol Dalton Knecht scores 19 points against Memphis.

Los Angeles (7-4) defeated Memphis, 128-123, Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Former Tennessee basketball player Dalton Knecht scored a career-high 19 points for the Lakers. He also recorded three assists, two rebounds and one steal in 19 minutes.

Knecht converted 7-of-8 field goal attempts and 5-of-5 three-point attempts.

He was selected in the first-round of the 2024 NBA draft (No. 17 overall) by Los Angeles.

Knecht, a transfer from Northern Colorado, played for the Vols during the 2023-24 season under head coach Rick Barnes. During his one season at Tennessee, he averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

He led the Vols to a SEC regular-season championship and an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history.

Knecht was the 2024 SEC Player and SEC Newcomer of the Year. He was a consensus All-America standout and earned the Julius Erving Award.

LeBron James had hilarious reaction to fan who encouraged his triple-double

This was such a funny move by LeBron.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James needed just one more rebound to record his second consecutive triple-double.

With two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the 39-year-old star pulled down his tenth board of the game against the Toronto Raptors. Immediately after grabbing the rebound, the four-time NBA Finals MVP pointed at a fan who was watching the game.

James was clearly aware of his accomplishment, which actually marked the second game in a row that he was able to achieve as much. But it seemed the fan was fully aware of what just happened as well.

After the game, James was asked about the exchange with the fan.

He spoke candidly about what happened in that moment.

According to James, the fan yelled “one more rebound” which got his attention.

So when he was done cleaning the glass, James made sure that he acknowledged that he was listening.

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