Dalton Knecht of the Lakers showed incredible efficiency in college, even when he was a guard

To the pleasant surprise of Los Angeles Lakers fans, the storied franchise selected shooting guard Dalton Knecht from the University of Tennessee with the 17th overall pick for the 2024 NBA draft. The 2024 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year was to be selected by lottery, but went to the Lakers.

LeBron James couldn’t believe Knecht was joining the Lakers, who were his second-favorite prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft, only better than his son Bronny James, who was also selected 55th by Los Angeles. Knecht took college basketball by storm last year, establishing himself as the best jump shooter in the country.

Knecht’s skill set is a perfect fit for players like James and Anthony Davis. He will have plenty of open offense as defenses will be more focused on defending the Lakers’ superstar duo. The shooting technique that Knecht displays should easily translate to the NBA.

According to The Field of 68, Knecht’s shooting percentage was 70 percent contested last season at Tennessee. The former Division 2 basketball player had a 58 percent shooting percentage, which placed him in the 85th percentile of all college basketball players. Most coaches tried to limit Knecht’s shooting during his time in the SEC, but none stood a chance as he rocked the entire conference.

During a post-draft press conference (hats off to VolReport’s Ryan Sylvia), Knecht was asked how he expected to be used in the Lakers’ offense, which is led by NBA veteran and sharpshooter JJ Redick, who was recently hired as head coach.

“I’ve seen a lot of JJ Redick with Coach Barnes,” Knecht said. “Just the way he moves and dictates his pace and how he’s been able to create space. So to hear that is going to be really exciting and really special.”

Knecht is an older rookie, so his learning curve will be shorter compared to his younger draft peers, as he should make the transition quicker than most players just entering the league. During his interview with McKee, Knecht talked a bit about how he is making the transition to the NBA.

“Learning how to take care of my body all the time,” Knecht continued. “I would say that’s the main thing I’ve been focusing on, and just being around the NBA guys that have been through this. So just learning from them.”

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