Rookie Dalton Knecht exploded for a career high on Tuesday and etched his name in history after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to their sixth straight win at Crypto.com Arena.
Knecht produced a game-high 37 points, five rebounds and one steal in a season-high 38 minutes in the 124-118 victory over the Utah Jazz in the NBA Cup. He finished by shooting 12-of-16 from the field, including 9-of-12 from 3-point range, in his fourth start of the season.
The 17th pick knocked down six 3-pointers and had 21 points alone in the third quarter to give the Lakers a 22-point lead. He scored 22 straight points for the Lakers over five minutes from the end of the period to the start of the fourth quarter.
“I didn’t know I scored (22) points in a row, but I just got in a groove, and my teammates found me,” Knecht said. “They were looking for me every time on offense. (Coach) JJ (Redick) was calling plays for me, so they made it really easy for me. I just had to get open and get the shot up.”
Knecht tied an NBA record and set the Lakers franchise mark for the most 3s in a game by a first-year player. He became the first Lakers rookie since Kyle Kuzma during the 2017-18 season to score at least 37 points in a game and is only the fourth player in team history to make nine or more 3s.
The 23-year-old set a new season high in scoring for a rookie, topping the 34 points by Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain on Nov. 13. He now has two of the top five highest-scoring games by a rookie this season after finishing with 27 points on Nov. 16.
Knecht dazzled the Hollywood crowd throughout his time on the court, particularly in the third quarter when he caught on fire. He continued to launch confidently from beyond the arc and wasn’t fazed by the moment at all when his teammates kept finding him.
“He is fearless,” Redick said. “In terms of what that does for the energy of the group and in the arena, I think, not just tonight, whether it was the Memphis game or the start of the fourth when we beat Sacramento here, his shotmaking gets us going. It is a real weapon for our group beyond the score.”
Knecht has drawn praise from several individuals on the Lakers since joining the team, including LeBron James. The four-time champion called Knecht his favorite player in college basketball last year, excluding his son, Bronny, and was impressed by his composure and ability to score at a high level.
The former Tennessee All-American was considered a potential lottery pick in the NBA draft this year before falling to the Lakers with the 17th pick. He has looked to be one of the biggest steals in the early going and is contributing at a high level for Redick and the Lakers.
James was thrilled the Lakers got him in June.
Everybody on the internet calls me a liar all the time. What am I now? I’ve been said it: I watched him. I watched Tennessee a lot. I did not think he was going to fall to us. I thought it’d be impossible. I have no idea how that happened, but (I’m) very grateful and very happy that he is here. I knew exactly what we were getting when he fell to 17.
Knecht is averaging 11.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists on 46.4% shooting from 3-point range in 14 games this season. He is fourth in the rookie class in scoring and one of three first-year players with multiple 20-point games (2), joining McCain and San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle.
Redick, who ranks 16th all-time in 3-point percentage (41.45), previously said Knecht is in the 1% of shooters in the league. He leads the rookie class in total 3s with 32, with half of them coming over his last three games as a member of the starting lineup.
Knecht has made a name for himself with the Lakers, and drew praise earlier this season from Hall of Famer Charles Barkley and legendary entertainer Snoop Dogg. The Lakers appear to have hit a home run with their first-round pick, but James isn’t necessarily giving Rob Pelinka & Co. all of the credit.
“They didn’t find D.K.,” James began, “the other 16 teams just (expletive) it up. Did anybody watch him? They just didn’t (expletive) it up. You don’t find an SEC Player of the Year.”
