In 2023-24, the Lakers completed 47-35 and needed to compete within the play-in match to make the playoffs. Los Angeles earned the seventh seed and misplaced in 5 video games to Denver within the first spherical. After the season, the workforce parted methods with head coach Darvin Ham after simply two seasons.
To interchange him, the Lakers employed JJ Redick to be their subsequent head coach. With their first-round choose within the 2024 draft, the Lakers chosen SF Dalton Knecht out of Tennessee. On Thursday evening vs. the Suns, Knecht went for 35 factors in a preseason OT win. The 23-year-old is proving that he wants common minutes within the rotation in the course of the common season. Knecht is a sharpshooter and generally is a power offensively for Los Angeles.
Dalton Knecht was crimson scorching within the second half for Los Angeles
DALTON KNECHT TONIGHT:
35 POINTS
7 REBOUNDS
8 3PM
10/18 FG pic.twitter.com/Lraa4EY47g— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 18, 2024
Throughout his collegiate profession, Dalton Knecht performed two seasons on the College of Northern Colorado. Together with his remaining yr of eligibility, he transferred to Tennessee. Within the 2023-24 season, Knecht averaged a career-high (21.7) factors per sport. Moreover, he was voted 2023-24 SEC Participant of the 12 months together with Consensus All-American honors. Knecht capitalized on his remaining yr in school and was chosen with the seventeenth choose by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024.
By his first 4 video games of the preseason for the Lakers, rookie SF Dalton Knecht was averaging (13.8) factors per sport. On Thursday vs. the Suns, Knecht had a sluggish first half. Nonetheless, he exploded for 30 factors within the second half and 20 straight between the fourth quarter and OT. That helped Los Angeles pull off an OT win vs. the Suns. Knecht’s 35 factors had been tied with Anthony Davis for a team-high vs. the Suns. The rookie has proved he’s worthy of a bigger function transferring ahead and JJ Redick was conscious that Knecht placed on a present Thursday evening. Knecht ought to be a strong piece of the bench for the Lakers in 2024-25.