The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 124-118 on Tuesday night, and the player of the game was none other than rookie Dalton Knecht, who scored 37 points, while shooting 9-for-12 from three-point range.
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Drafted with the No. 17 pick out of Tennessee, Knecht has already thrusted himself into the Rookie of the Year conversation, and tonight his nine made 3's actually tied a rookie record.
DALTON KNECHT HAD HIMSELF A NIGHT:
🔥 37 PTS (career high)
🔥 9 3PM (ties rookie record)
🔥 Scored 22 straight for LA@Lakers move 2-0 in #EmiratesNBACup play and are undefeated going back to last season 💯 pic.twitter.com/OjMOeKxY4p— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
Down the stretch at the end of the third quarter, Knecht seemingly couldn't miss, as he hit five consecutive three pointers and made 22 straight points for the Lakers.
DALTON KNECHT IS SCORCHING 🔥🔥
4 triples in a two minute span... LeBron is LOVING IT. 😆 pic.twitter.com/7ACsTcqufj
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
After the game, LeBron James was asked about his thoughts on Knecht 4's performance, and he pointed out what he said about the Tennessee star before he was drafted.
LeBron James on publicly praising Dalton Knecht last season: “Everybody on the Internet called me a liar all the time. What am I now?” LeBron conceded surprise Knecht dropped to No. 17 pic.twitter.com/KUtgY8YhvO
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 20, 2024
With this in mind, it does appear that LeBron did in fact speak highly of Knecht during last year's NCAA tournament.
LeBron James was praising Dalton Knecht months ago!
— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) June 27, 2024
All in all, 39-year-old LeBron is happy that the Lakers drafted both his son Bronny and Knecht in the 2024 NBA Draft, as he expressed his surprise that the other 16 NBA teams didn't take him before the Lakers did.
"I did not think he [Knecht] would fall to us," LeBron said. "Thought it would be impossible. But very grateful and happy that he's here."
LeBron James on the Lakers front office drafting Dalton Knecht: “They didn’t find DK … the other 16 teams f—-ed it up” pic.twitter.com/agmO547mnW
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 20, 2024
Ultimately, it was a group effort for the Lakers, as LeBron put up 26 points (9-for-17 FG) and dished out 12 assists. While Anthony Davis also scored 26 points, to go along with 14 rebounds and six assists.
Right now as the defending In-Season Tournament champions, the Lakers are 2-0 and the next Group Stage game will be vs. the Phoenix Suns on November 26.
