Dalton Knecht after sliding in NBA Draft: 'I'll always have that chip on my shoulder'
Dalton Knecht had a message to share Wednesday night during his press conference at the NBA Draft. The story he’s living out — from high school to junior college, mid-major to high major to the NBA — could be anyone’s story.
“I would say to all the kids out there that don’t have offers, you don’t have to be the highest-rated kid in your class or whatever,” Knecht said. “You could always go junior college or whatever type of route and be different. You can make your own path and find your way.”
Knecht’s path went from Prairie View High School in Henderson, Col., to Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Col. Then to Northern Colorado for two seasons, then one dream season at Tennessee. On Wednesday he heard his name called in the NBA Draft when the Los Angeles Lakers selected him at No. 17 overall in the first round.
But like so many times before, Knecht was overlooked on draft night.
‘I feel like I’ve been underrated my whole entire life’
He was widely projected as a top-10 pick in mock drafts last week and was ranked No. 8 overall on ESPN’s list of the top-100 available players in the draft.
Then he slid out of the top 10. And out of the lottery. All the way to No. 17.
“I feel like I’ve been underrated my whole entire life,” Knecht said Wednesday, “ever since I was coming out of high school. I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder, and to this day I’ll always have that chip on my shoulder to go out there and prove people wrong.”
Looking back, Knecht was extremely underrated a little more than a year ago, when he entered the NCAA Transfer Portal and eventually landed at Tennessee.
He exploded onto the scene with the Vols, averaging 21.7 points per game and 25.5 in SEC play at Tennessee. He was a consensus First Team All-American, the SEC Player of the Year and the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year.
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He scored a career-high 40 points on senior day against Kentucky, scored 36 or more points six times and had 24 or more points in 15 of 36 games.
But on draft night, Knecht’s age — he turned 23 in April — was the biggest reason for his slide down the draft board.
Dalton Knecht is eighth Tennessee player drafted during Rick Barnes era
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said on Friday that, while sitting at Knecht’s table during the draft, the two talked about how this was nothing new. Knecht has always had something to prove, and that will continue in the NBA.
“You know, you got to Tennessee in a roundabout way in terms of not many people knew about you,” Barnes said. “And now you’ve always sort of, kind of had a chip on your shoulder wanting to prove people wrong. And you can use it that way too.
“But this is nothing to be ashamed of or any of that. I think every player wants to be a lottery pick. Sometimes it works out better with who you get drafted by. And in this situation, I think it’s great for him.”
