Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht shined in his NBA preseason debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 17th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft scored 16 points by hitting an impressive 53.8% of his shots.
His strong performance carried over into the Lakers’ third preseason game, which gave him more confidence and made him want to become one of the best players in NBA history.
Lakers coach JJ Redick made a few changes to the team this summer, bringing in rookie Dalton Knecht. The two have bonded well, with Redick supporting Knecht’s role as a key rookie contributor for a competitive season.
He played great against the Bucks, scoring 16 points by making 7 out of 13 shots, including 2 out of 7 from three-point range. He also got three rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block in just 25 minutes off the bench.
Feeling confident, Knecht told ESPN, “I want to be the best player in the league. All-Star. Do whatever it takes for the team […] Obviously gotta get some championships.” Known for his great shooting and attacking the basket, Knecht is not afraid of big moments and believes he’s the best player on the court.
JJ Redick applauds Dalton Knecht’s Impressive preseason performance
Coach JJ Redick praised Dalton Knecht as a key rookie for the Lakers this season, highlighting his strong preseason performance and competitive mindset.
The 40-year-old applauded Knecht’s mental toughness, saying, “He didn’t get down on himself about missing shots. He was super engaged, and it really showed in the last conditioning transition drill where he was challenged to be the rabbit, and that competitive nature came out.”
After team practices, he also discussed Dalton’s strong play to start the preseason. “He really competed on the defensive end. And I talked with him about this, that’s all I’m asking him to do. If he’s gonna play on this team and play minutes and be in the rotation this year, he knows this, he’s gotta compete defensively.”
