Dalton Knecht was a consensus First-Team All-American from the Tennessee Volunteers. He surprised many by falling to the Los Angeles Lakers at pick 17. Leading up to his selection, ESPN’s draft coverage expressed astonishment at Knecht’s slide. In ESPN’s final mock draft it was noted teams 4 through 9 had interest in him. He averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks in 30.5 minutes per game. He shoot 45.8 percent overall, 39.7 percent from deep and 77.2 percent at the line.
Photo Cred: BR
Givony reported, “A half-dozen NBA executives told ESPN that it was Knecht’s age (23) and not medical concerns or other issues that caused his slide.” Despite this, those same GMs praised Knecht’s impressive workouts and interviews, potentially making him a steal for the Lakers at 17.
Knecht fell out of the lottery, trailing high-scoring freshmen Reed Sheppard from Kentucky and Stephon Castle from UConn, picked 3rd and 4th by the Rockets and Spurs, respectively. Despite being older at 23, Knecht’s scoring prowess, superior to his younger counterparts, was a key factor in the Lakers’ decision.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic ranked Knecht ninth in his 2024 NBA Draft Big Board, categorizing him as a “Starter/All-Star Tool Swing.” Vecenie highlighted Knecht as the most NBA-ready scorer in the draft, capable of immediately bolstering the Lakers’ offense in the competitive Western Conference, where they aim to contend while LeBron James nears the twilight of his career.
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In response to his unexpected slide, Knecht expressed confidence during his draft interview, stating, “I’ve always been underrated, which fuels my determination every time I step onto the court.”
Knecht’s journey included stints at Northeastern Junior College (2019-21) before transferring to Northern Colorado and subsequently to Tennessee. His final season with the Volunteers earned him SEC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors. He led a memorable NCAA tournament run where he nearly propelled Tennessee to their first Final Four appearance since 2010.
If Knecht’s scoring translates to the NBA , he promises to be a valuable addition to the Lakers. Joining the team as LeBron James embarks on his 21st season. Knecht looks forward to playing alongside one of basketball’s greatest players and exciting the LA crowd with his skills. When James retires Knecths
