Lakers Draft Dalton Knecht- The Los Angeles Lakers picked Dalton Knecht, a top scorer from Tennessee, as their 17th choice in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday night.
Lakers draft Dalton Knecht 17th
The might have found their new top scorer for now and in the future.
On an important night in Brooklyn, the Los Angeles Lakers picked Dalton Knect, a top scorer from Tennessee, with the 17th pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. This choice is expected to help the team now and in the future.
Before the draft, people wondered if the Lakers would use their pick or trade it to another team.
There were several big trades before the draft. The most important was the New York Knicks going all in on their former Villanova players. They traded Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks, and one protected first-round pick to get forward Mikal Bridges.
The Lakers decided to keep their first-round pick to strengthen their team now and for the future.
Knecht’s journey to this moment is impressive. He is 6’5″ tall and weighs 212 pounds. This year, he stood out as a guard during his single season at the University of Tennessee.
Knecht was the top scorer in the SEC, averaging 21.7 points per game. He shot 45.8% from the field, 39.7% from three-point range, and 77.2% from the free-throw line. His great performance earned him First Team All-America honors and the SEC Player of the Year title.
Before joining Tennessee, Knecht played for two seasons at Northern Colorado. In his 103 Division I games, he averaged 16.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Knecht showed his scoring ability by scoring in double figures 75 times, reaching 20 or more points in 38 games, 30 or more in 11 games, and even scoring 40 points in one game.
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Knecht went to Northeastern Junior College in Colorado after graduating from Prairie View High School in Henderson, Colorado. He wasn’t noticed much in high school, but he became a star in college. His journey shows his resilience and determination.
Rob Pelinka, who is the Lakers’ Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, shared his excitement about Knecht’s selection in a statement that the team released.
“It’s a very exciting night for the Los Angeles Lakers. We never thought we’d find a player so skilled and perfectly suited to our team. He was unanimously ranked in the top 10 on all our scouting boards.”
Pelinka highlighted Knecht’s competitiveness, describing him as a player who can score from anywhere on the court and is strong on defense. Knecht’s skills in defending, his physical strength, and athleticism make him a valuable player for the Lakers, perfect for their team.
The Lakers picked Knecht in the draft to help with scoring from outside and making quick shots. He can play in different positions and score well, which will help LeBron James and Anthony Davis on offense. People think he plays a bit like Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jerami Grant, and Terrence Ross, showing he could be a big help to the team.
Dalton Knecht, the newest Lakers player, brings hope to the team aiming for another championship. His path from a high school player overlooked by many to an NBA first-round pick shows his talent and determination. Lakers fans can expect to see Knecht’s scoring ability and strong defense at Crypto.com Arena as he starts this new phase in his basketball career.
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