Dalton Knecht surprised he fell in draft, but ‘very blessed’ to land with Lakers

Entering the 2024 NBA Draft, most experts ranked Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht among the top 10 prospects. Although his ceiling was perceived as a bit lower than other younger prospects, he was viewed as someone who can contribute right away, and winning SEC Player of the Year was proof that he could perform on the biggest stages.

The fact that he fell to the Lakers with the 17th overall pick was a surprise to pretty much everyone, and Knecht was immediately considered one of the biggest steals in the draft. So far, he’s proven everyone right, especially after his 37-point explosion in the Lakers’ win over the Utah Jazz in which he tied an NBA rookie record nine 3-pointers.

Often it’s not about how high a player is drafted, but rather where they land, as being in the right situation is most important to a player’s success. While Knecht would admit he was a bit surprised he fell as far as he did on draft night, he’s very happy with where he ended up.

“I would say a little bit,” Knecht said when asked if he was surprised by his draft fall. “I did what I did in college. A lot of people said I was the best player, so when I fell, it was okay because I landed in a great place. I’m going to play with LeBron, I mean, who could say ?And then AD too. I went to a great franchise and I’m very blessed to be here.”

The Lakers have long needed a true sharpshooter on their roster, and Knecht has provided that. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis garnering so much attention, it allows for wide-open looks for the rookie. And when teams adjust to Knecht’s hot shooting, he’s also shown the ability to attack the rim and finish or find teammates for easy buckets.

Most teams in the draft are hoping to land a player who can eventually be a solid role player and part of their rotation. The Lakers appear to have done that and more as Knecht has greatly endeared himself to his teammates, coaches and fans, and things should only get better from here.

Lakers’ Dalton Knecht knew it was going to be a special night after his first shot

Although Dalton Knecht has found his groove this season with the Lakers, there was no predicting the night he had against the Jazz. But when the rookie knocked down his first shot, he knew it was going to be a big night.

“The first shot,” Knecht said when asked when he felt it was going to be a good night. “Every time I see one go in, I think the next one is going in. Even if I miss it, I always have confidence that my next shot is going in. My dad always told me that, so it’s just my confidence. “

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