The Los Angeles Lakers may not have won as many games as they hoped to between the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League, but they saw what they needed out of their 2024 NBA Draft first-round pick Dalton Knecht.
Knecht somehow fell to the Lakers to No. 17 despite most projections have him going in the lottery and the team was happy to take him in the middle of the first round.
Knecht got off to a slow start shooting the basketball in the California Classic as it seemed like he was getting used to NBA speed and physicality.
However, the rookie eventually settled in offensively and found himself as the focal point of the Lakers’ gameplan as a shooter and even as a primary ballhandler.
Knecht helped lead Los Angeles to two victories in Las Vegas before the team decided to sit him for their finale against the Chicago Bulls.
He had a strong close to the summer and stats show just how effective he was via StatMuse.
“Dalton Knecht last three Summer League games: 21.3 PPG 5.3 RPG 1.7 SPG 3.0 3PM.”
Dalton Knecht last three Summer League games:
21.3 PPG
5.3 RPG
1.7 SPG
3.0 3PMHow many PPG for Knecht 4 this season? pic.twitter.com/jcyXwdCsyM
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 21, 2024
Those are impressive numbers for Knecht who was deemed as one of the most pro-ready prospects in his draft class and he showed why with a blend of shooting and scoring at all three levels of the floor.
New head coach JJ Redick has already spoken highly of the sharpshooter out of Tennessee and it’s expected that Knecht will play a role off the bench immediately.
The Lakers have done well in past years drafting and they might have another gem in Knecht.
NEXT:
Insider Names 8 Potential Trade Targets For Lakers