Tennessee basketball star Dalton Knecht back in Knoxville after NBA year

After a successful rookie year with the Lakers, former Tennessee basketball star Dalton Knecht is back in Knoxville.

According to photos posted on Tennessee basketball’s Twitter/X account, Knecht was back in the practice facility to get off-season work in.

Donning NBA apparel, he was seen working with Vols’ Assistant Director of Player Development, Riley Collins.

TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM

It wasn’t necessarily a drama-free rookie year for Knecht. After falling to the Lakers in the draft, Los Angeles attempted to deal him to the Hornets at the trade deadline.

However, Mark Williams failed his physical resulting in the trade being called off and Knecht staying with the Lakers.

He saw his play time go up-and-down throughout the year while playing in 78 games and making 16 starts in the regular season. He finished with an average of 9.1 points per game on 46.1% shooting from the field and 37.6% on 3-pointers.

He also tossed in 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.

One of Knecht’s finest performances of the year game in the final game of the regular season. While earning a start, he produced 27 points on five made 3-pointers to go with eight rebounds and two blocks.

Los Angeles finished third in the West to earn a play-off berth. However, the team fell to the 6-seed Timberwolves in the opening round.

Knecht was far off draft radars heading into his final season of college eligibility but catapulted his way toward the top of the board in his lone season in Knoxville. He finished as SEC Player of the Year and was a finalist for Naismith Trophy.

He was named a consensus All-American and took home the Julius Erving Award that goes to the college basketball small forward of the year.

Knecht finished the 2023-24 season with averages of 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. This came on 45.8% shooting from the field and 39.7% on 3-pointers.

He also played at Northern Colorado for two seasons after beginning his career at Northeastern Community College in the Juco ranks.

In his final season of eligibility, Knecht was a key piece of Tennessee’s team that has an argument to go down as the best in school history. The Vols claimed the SEC regular season title and made an Elite Eight run for just the second time ever at the time.

Knecht had memorable performances during the regular season including a late outburst against Auburn to secure a win at home.

In just one year, he goes down as one of the best players in school history.