Los Angeles Lakers select Dalton Knecht in 2024 NBA Draft

The Los Angeles Lakers have selected Dalton Knecht with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Knecht transferred to Tennessee ahead of the 2023-24 season and made the most of his opportunity.

In his lone season with the Volunteers, Knecht averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 39.7% from beyond the arc. Knecht’s 21.7 points per game were the most in the SEC.

Knecht didn’t slow down under the spotlight, either. In Tennessee’s season-ending loss against Purdue in the Elite Eight, Knecht broke the program record for points in an NCAA Tournament game with 37, the sixth-most ever by an SEC player.

For his efforts, he was the 2024 SEC Player of the Year, a unanimous All-American (AP, NABC, Sporting News, USBWA), a Julius Erving Award honoree and Naismith Trophy Player of the Year finalist.

Before transferring to Tennessee, Knecht spent two seasons at Northern Colorado, where he won the 2022-23 Big Sky scoring title by averaging a league-best 20.2 points per game. Prior to his stint at Northern Colorado, Knecht spent two seasons at Northeastern Junior College.

Dalton Knecht played high school basketball at Prairie View High School (CO), where he was an unranked prospect in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about Dalton Knecht

Experts have high hopes for Knecht at the next level. Ahead of the draft, On3’s James Fletcher III broke down Knecht’s play style and NBA potential.

“Dalton Knecht left no doubt that he can score the basketball at any level,” Fletcher III wrote. “Upping his production while moving from Northern Colorado to Tennessee makes him one of the highest floor players on offense.

“The 6-foot-6 wing will now go head-to-head with athletic defenders more often in the NBA, giving him another area to grow. He improved defensively, but still has questions to answer on that end as well.”

Fletcher wasn’t the only one sang Knecht’s praises in the lead up to draft night. “RotoWire” also raved about the Tennessee standout.

“Knecht has excellent size and is comfortable handling the ball, shooting off the catch and pulling up off the dribble from well beyond the 3-point line. Knecht’s confidence and seemingly unlimited range are what make him such a dangerous offensive player.

“He’s not overly quick or athletic, but defenders are forced to respect his ability to pull up at a moment’s notice… Defensively, Knecht will almost certainly be a liability at the NBA level. Improving his quickness and positioning will be key points of emphasis. Even so, he’s a heady player on both ends, so the hope is that his instincts and IQ help offset some of the physical limitations.”