Dalton Knecht's transition to professional basketball has been anything but smooth as he has struggled to find his touch during the California Classic. The Los Angeles Lakers recently fell to the Golden State Warriors, 92-68, and Knecht's shooting woes were evident. In 22 minutes of play, Knecht managed to score only 12 points, hitting just 3 of his 13 shot attempts.
The struggles began earlier in the tournament for Knecht. On Saturday, he finished 3-of-12 from the floor, and over the first two games of the summer league, he is a disappointing 2-of-15 on jumpers, translating to a mere 13.3% accuracy rate. These early difficulties are a stark contrast to his prolific final collegiate season at Tennessee, where he averaged an impressive 21.7 points per game and notably hit 42.3% of his catch-and-shoot three-pointers according to Synergy Sports.
Despite his rough start in the summer league, Knecht remains optimistic. "I haven't played since March. Just finding my rhythm again and keep playing with these new guys and keep adjusting. … Shooters shoot. My dad always told me the next shot is going in," he said. Knecht’s words reflect the mindset of a player determined to overcome his current slump and regain the shooting form that made him a standout at the collegiate level.
Lakers’ summer league coach Dane Johnson also expressed confidence in Knecht’s abilities. "Just being patient with it. It's a long summer league. It's going to come. He's a great player, so I'm not worried about him missing some of the shots he's taking. He's a great shooter. Let the game come to him. There are some [flashes] where you see that he's got it," Johnson remarked. His comments highlight the patience and belief that the Lakers organization has in Knecht's potential.
While the statistics from his first two summer league outings may not be promising, there are signs of hope. Knecht has shown an ability to get to the free-throw line, making 14 trips there across the two games. Additionally, he has demonstrated some proficiency near the rim, converting 4-of-8 shots in this area. These flashes of aggression and physicality indicate that Knecht is not solely reliant on his jumper, and he is capable of affecting the game in various ways.
Knecht's path to the NBA has been filled with both highs and lows. He was considered a consensus top-10 pick leading up to the draft, but surprisingly slid out of the lottery on draft night. This setback seemed to have little impact on his determination, but the adjustment period to the professional level has proven to be a challenge.
The Lakers have one more game left in the California Classic, a matchup against the Miami Heat on Wednesday. It presents another opportunity for Knecht to find his rhythm and make a stronger impression. As he continues to adapt to the pace and style of professional basketball, both Knecht and the Lakers remain hopeful that his shooting form will return and the promise he showed at Tennessee will translate to the next level.
In the high-stakes environment of the NBA Summer League, every game is a chance for young players to prove themselves. For Dalton Knecht, the journey to establish himself as a reliable shooter and valuable asset for the Lakers is just beginning. With more games and practices, the hope is that his shooting touch will return, and he will become the impactful player that many anticipated during his collegiate career.