Dalton Knecht Struggles to Find Rhythm in California Classic as Lakers Fall to Warriors
Dalton Knecht has yet to find his groove in the California Classic, a stark contrast to his prolific collegiate performance. The Los Angeles Lakers’ newest addition scored 12 points in a disappointing 92-68 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. However, his shooting struggles continued to spotlight the game, as he made only 3 of his 13 attempts in 22 minutes on the court.
His shooting woes are not unprecedented in this summer league. Knecht also finished 3-of-12 in Saturday's game, contributing to a concerning 2-of-15 accuracy on jumpers across his first two summer league appearances — a mere 13.3% success rate.
Despite these challenges, Knecht has shown glimpses of his potential. Having reached the free-throw line 14 times in two games and converting 4 out of 8 shots at the rim, he has demonstrated his ability to penetrate defenses and draw fouls. These particular skills were a hallmark of his final collegiate season at Tennessee, where he averaged an impressive 21.7 points per game. Notably, Knecht was a sharpshooter from beyond the arc, hitting 42.3% of his catch-and-shoot three-pointers, according to Synergy Sports.
Expectations were undeniably high for Knecht, who was a consensus top-10 pick leading up to the draft. His slide out of the lottery on draft night has brought with it a certain pressure to perform and validate his budding star status.
The Lakers' summer league coach, Dane Johnson, appeared unfazed by Knecht’s shooting slump, projecting confidence and patience. "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 said.
Knecht himself attributed the slow start to rust accumulated during his hiatus from live play, having last competed in 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.
The Lakers have one more game left in the California Classic against the Miami Heat on Wednesday. This game offers Knecht another opportunity to regain his scoring touch and deliver on the high expectations set for him. As the summer league progresses, eyes will be glued to the Los Angeles bench, watching to see if Knecht can transform flashes of brilliance into consistent performance.
For Knecht and the Lakers, patience remains the mantra. His shooting pedigree is well-documented, and history suggests that once Knecht finds his rhythm, he is capable of lighting up the scoreboard. Until then, Lakers fans and scouts will be watching closely, hopeful that the sharp-shooting Knecht will soon re-emerge.