At 23 years old, Dalton Knecht was considered “old” for a rookie coming into the NBA Draft, but he’s proving that experience can be invaluable. The Lakers rookie delivered when his team needed him most Saturday night, erupting for a career-high 27 points, including five three-pointers, while adding seven rebounds and two steals in a crucial victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Knecht’s hot shooting, particularly in the third quarter alongside Anthony Davis, helped the Lakers overcome a sluggish first half. The duo combined for 26 of the team’s 29 points over that stretch. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ defense locked down New Orleans to just 15 points.
Lakers guard Dalton Knecht vs the New Orleans Pelicans
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
The rookie guard is on a tear over his last three games, averaging 20 points while shooting a blistering 63.9% from the field and 63.1% from three-point range. While these percentages might not be sustainable, Knecht’s shooting ability is exactly what the Lakers have been searching for.
After the win, Lakers star center Anthony Davis praised Knecht:
“Anytime he shoots the ball I think it’s going in, that’s why we get so frustrated and upset when he doesn’t shoot… He’s a great player. He can defend, he can shoot, he can put it on the floor, he can pass, so he can do it all.”
Davis went on to compare Knecht’s skill set to Bucks guard Damian Lillard, another player who spent significant time in college:
“He’s not really a young player… He’s already pro-ready, it’s kinda like how Dame was. You go through college for so long, you kinda mature, get older.”
For Knecht, the team’s confidence in him has been crucial to his early success. “It’s always good to have a coach like that, a coach that is super confident in you, always wanting you to shoot the ball… And those guys like LeBron and AD always encourage me to shoot the ball. They say I practice it all the time, just be out there and play super confident.”
