Dalton Knecht's quest to find his rhythm in the California Classic has been anything but smooth. The Lakers' newest addition has shown glimpses of his potential, yet struggled to translate his collegiate success into the summer league thus far.
The Lakers endured a tough 92-68 defeat against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, a game where Knecht managed to score 12 points, albeit on a challenging 3-of-13 shooting display in his 22 minutes of play. This followed a less-than-stellar performance on Saturday, with Knecht finishing 3-of-12 from the floor. Through his first two summer league games, the former Tennessee star has managed just a 13.3% accuracy on jump shots, hitting only 2-of-15.
Despite these early struggles, Knecht has not been entirely out of sync. He displayed his aggressive side by earning 14 trips to the free-throw line across the two games and converted 4-of-8 attempts at the rim. His ability to draw fouls showcases a tenacity that the Lakers hoped to see when they brought him on board.
Knecht's prowess as a shooter cannot be overstated. In his final collegiate season at Tennessee, he averaged an impressive 21.7 points per game and hit 42.3% of his catch-and-shoot three-pointers, according to Synergy Sports. His pedigree even had him touted as a consensus top-10 pick heading into the draft, before he eventually slid out of the lottery on draft night.
Understanding the roller-coaster nature of the sport, Lakers’ summer league coach, Dane Johnson, emphasized 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 remarked, reflecting an optimistic outlook on Knecht's potential to turn things around.
Knecht, too, has a pragmatic perspective on his initial performances. "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," said Knecht, showing a mindset focused on persistence and self-belief.
As the Lakers head into their final California Classic matchup against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, all eyes will be on Knecht to see if he can find the shooting touch that made him a standout collegiate player. The ups and downs of summer league play are not uncommon for rookies, and both fans and the Lakers’ coaching staff are hopeful that Knecht’s turnarounds are just around the corner.
The California Classic serves as an early stepping stone in what the Lakers hope will be a fruitful NBA career for Knecht. His stats might currently paint a grim picture, but the essence of summer league is growth and adaptation. With more games and minutes under his belt, Knecht possesses the tools and mentality to evolve and make a significant impact.