Dalton Knecht's struggle to find his rhythm during the California Classic has been a talking point for the Los Angeles Lakers. In a disappointing 92-68 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, Knecht managed to score only 12 points, shooting 3-of-13 in 22 minutes of play.
In his first summer league game on Saturday, Knecht’s performance was similarly lackluster, finishing 3-of-12 from the floor. His accuracy on jump shots has been particularly troubling, hitting just 2-of-15 attempts, resulting in a mere 13.3% success rate. Despite these shooting woes, Knecht showcased his ability to get to the free-throw line, drawing 14 attempts over the two games and converting 4-of-8 shots at the rim.
Dalton Knecht’s collegiate career at Tennessee, where he averaged an impressive 21.7 points per game in his final season, provided a different narrative. A sharpshooter with a 42.3% success rate on catch-and-shoot three-pointers, Knecht was anticipated to be a consensus top-10 pick going into the draft. However, he slid out of the lottery on draft night, which raised some eyebrows.
Despite his current struggles, Lakers’ summer league coach Dane Johnson remains optimistic about Knecht’s potential. "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 asserted.
Knecht himself acknowledges the time he needs to regain his form. "I haven't played since March. Just finding my rhythm again and keep playing with these new guys and keep adjusting,” he noted. “Shooters shoot. My dad always told me the next shot is going in. Shooters shoot."
As the Lakers prepare for their final game in the California Classic against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, all eyes will be on Knecht to see if he can overcome his shooting slump and demonstrate why he was so highly regarded coming out of Tennessee. The hope is that with time and patience, he can find his stride and translate his college success onto the professional stage.