In about a month, the Los Angeles Lakers’ training camp begins, and we’ll get our first look at the new rookies, especially their first-round draft pick, guard/forward Dalton Knecht from Tennessee.
If everything works out for Knecht, he could be a key part of JJ Redick and his team’s rotation. Only time will tell. In the meantime, Knecht has been working to ensure he gets the opportunity to showcase his skills at the next level and alongside superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Knecht has been working hard on his skills just months before the real games begin. In a recent interview with Slam’s Jared Ebanks, Knecht admitted to modeling his game after Phoenix Suns superstars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
“I tried to incorporate as much as I could into my game, and that kind of continued when I saw – in Tennessee with Coach Barnes – a lot of highlights of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker,” Knecht says. “So I just try to take as many players as I can and incorporate them into my game.”
Boefre, 23, was drafted by the Lakers; Knecht admitted that Durant is his favorite player of all time, so it’s no surprise that he watches his video to learn a thing or two that he can apply to his game.
Durant and Booker are naturals at putting the ball in the basket. They are also creative at drawing fouls and creating space to get a jump shot off their defender. It’s no secret why they are All-NBA players.
The Lakers selected the guard with the number 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Knecht could end up being an outstanding player in a draft class that is not one of the best compared to previous years.
Compared to his other draft peers, Knecht could play a lot of minutes right from the start and potentially compete for a title if things work out for LA. All of that is expected in a few months. The former Tennessee transfer is 6’6″, went to the tough SEC last season and blew everyone else out of the water.
Knecht averaged 21.7 points per game and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 39.7 percent of his three-pointers. He was also named SEC Player of the Year, SEC Newcomer of the Year and First-Team All-SEC.
The 23-year-old will be one of LA’s top players to keep an eye on as the team enters the 2024-25 season.
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