Dalton Knecht has found himself in an early rut during the California Classic, leaving many Lakers fans hoping for a quick turnaround. The Lakers suffered a lopsided 92-68 defeat to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, and Knecht’s struggles were apparent.
Scoring 12 points on a dismal 3-of-13 shooting in his 22 minutes of play, Knecht hasn't been able to connect as the team might have hoped. This followed a similarly tough outing on Saturday, where he completed just three of his 12 attempts from the floor. His shooting accuracy on jumpers stands at a worrying 13.3% through his first two summer league games, hitting only 2-of-15 attempts.
Despite these numbers, it’s essential to consider the broader context. Knecht managed to get to the free-throw line 14 times over these two games and successfully made 4-of-8 shots at the rim. Yet, the transition to the next level hasn’t been as seamless as many projected for the former Tennessee standout, who averaged an impressive 21.7 points per game in his final collegiate season.
Dalton Knecht's shooting prowess was a key highlight during his tenure at Tennessee, particularly his proficiency from beyond the arc. According to Synergy Sports, Knecht hit 42.3% of his catch-and-shoot three-pointers. This statistical excellence made him a consensus top-10 pick leading up to the draft. However, he surprisingly slid out of the lottery on draft night, landing in a different position than many had predicted.
After the loss to the Warriors, Lakers summer league coach Dane Johnson expressed confidence in Knecht’s abilities despite the shooting slump. "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 stated.
Knecht himself remains undaunted by the rough start. Reflecting on his early struggles and remaining optimistic, he shared, "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. Shooters shoot."
As part of the Lakers' developmental plans, the summer league offers young talents like Knecht the opportunity to hone their skills and adjust to the professional level's heightened competition. It’s crucial to remember that early summer league performance doesn’t always predict a player’s long-term success or failure in the NBA. However, with the Lakers having one more game left in the California Classic against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, all eyes will be on Knecht to see if he can bounce back and display the form that made him a collegiate star.
For Lakers fans, the hope is that Dalton Knecht can find his shooting touch and live up to the potential that has many excited about his future with the franchise. His resilience and positive outlook are promising signs, indicating that this shooting slump may soon be just a footnote in what could be an impressive professional career.