Dalton Knecht is back on the NBA court after a difficult few days.
While Dalton Knecht was in LA for the Lakers win over the Jazz earlier this week, he did not play, with JJ Redick worried he needed more time to re-adjust.
Knecht had been sent back to the Lakers after the trade with the Charlotte Hornets was rescinded due to concerns over Mark Williams’ health.
He returned to action in the road loss against the Jazz, putting up 10 points in 17 minutes.
Being back with the LA Lakers is a little different now to when Dalton Knecht came into the team after being selected 17th in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Knecht is now on a team boasting Luka Doncic, a perennial MVP contender who has joined LeBron James, following a stunning trade with the Dallas Mavericks.
Doncic has just returned from injury, and is adjusting to playing on the Lakers, making two appearances on a minutes restriction.
And while the numbers from his performance don’t jump out, there have been some impressive splashy plays, with his passing.
Doncic’s passing is one of the strengths of his game, and Dalton Knecht has revealed this is already factoring into the Lakers team instructions.
Knecht told his press conference post-Jazz: “It’s crazy. They told me no matter what when he has the ball be ready to shoot.
“Seeing that, a couple of passes to AR, ‘Bron, he wasn’t even looking, it was crazy. Excited.”
The LA Lakers are now heading into the NBA All-Star break, which will give several players a chance to have some time out.
Luka Doncic is not involved, due to injury keeping him out of action for the past few weeks.
And this is a positive for the Lakers, allowing Doncic some time to mentally reset, and potentially extra work at the practice facility with coaching staff ahead of the second half of the season.
