Dalton Knecht's journey through the California Classic has been a tumultuous one so far, revealing the challenges that even the most talented rookies can face adapting to the rigors of NBA play. Knecht, who was once a consensus top-10 pick before sliding out of the lottery on draft night, has struggled to find his shooting touch in his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers' latest matchup saw them fall to the Golden State Warriors by a lopsided 92-68 score. Knecht played 22 minutes, scoring 12 points but struggling with his shooting, going just 3-of-13 from the field. This shooting struggle has been a recurring theme in Knecht's initial summer league games. In his first two games, he has connected on only 2-of-15 jump shots, marking a dismal 13.3% accuracy rate.
Knecht's difficulties in finding his groove extend back to his debut on Saturday, where he finished just 3-of-12 from the floor. The issues seemed to carry over, indicating that the sharpshooter is still adjusting to the pace and physicality of professional play. Nevertheless, there have been glimpses of his potential, and it’s clear he remains a work in progress.
Despite his shooting woes, Knecht has shown an ability to get to the free-throw line, attempting 14 free throws across his two games. Furthermore, he has made 4-of-8 shots at the rim, demonstrating some versatility in his scoring attempts. His performance is a stark contrast to his impressive final collegiate season at Tennessee, where he averaged 21.7 points per game and nailed 42.3% of his catch-and-shoot three-pointers, according to Synergy Sports.
Lakers' summer league coach Dane Johnson remains optimistic about 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 emphasized.
Knecht himself acknowledges the challenges of getting back into rhythm after a long layoff since March. "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," Knecht reflected, showing a resilient mindset in the face of early struggles.
The upcoming game against the Miami Heat on Wednesday represents another opportunity for Knecht to find his stride. Given his track record in college, the Lakers and their fans hold high hopes that he will eventually adjust and display the shooting prowess that made him a standout at Tennessee.
As Knecht continues to adapt to the summer league's fast-paced environment, the journey provides a reminder that the transition from college stardom to NBA rookie is often a demanding one, requiring not just talent, but patience and perseverance. The Lakers will no doubt be keen to see their young talent overcome this initial learning curve and begin to showcase his scoring abilities in the games to come.