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Dalton Knecht shows signs of settling in with 20 points in third NBA Summer League game

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•07/11/24•

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Dalton Knecht started to look like himself in his third NBA Summer League game. Knecht on Wednesday night finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and an assist in 31 minutes for the Los Angeles Lakers in an 80-76 loss to the Miami Heat. 

Knecht scored 14 of his 20 points, going 2-for-4 from the 3-point line, and had seven of his nine rebounds in the first half. He finished 7-for-18 from the field and 2-for-8 from the 3-point line. 

“Just breathe,” Knecht told NBA.com earlier this week of his transition to the NBA this summer. “It’s just a normal game. You’re at the pro level, you earned it. Now it’s just time to keep putting the work in and keep showing up.”

Knecht struggled to get going in his first two professional games. In losses to the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors over the weekend, he had 12 points in each game, going a combined 6-for-25 from the field and 2-for-7 from the 3-point line. 

“He’s had a great couple of days,” Lakers coach Dane Johnson told NBA.com. “A couple shots didn’t fall for him, but in practice he’s brought effort, he’s brought energy. He just plays hard and will do whatever you tell him to do.”

On Saturday in a 108-94 loss to the Kings, Knecht’s 12 points came on 3-for-12 shooting from the field, He was 1-for-4 from the 3-point line and had two rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes.

In a 92-68 loss to the Warriors on Sunday, Knecht was 3-for-13 from the field and 1-for-3 fro the 3-point line, with two rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes. 

Dalton Knecht was No. 17 overall pick in the NBA Draft

“Some shots he took were tough shots,” Johnson said, “but we’ll continue to watch film, work on those coming off screens, fighting for his position, learning how to use his body a little bit. He’s a big wing, he can (try to) use his shoulder to get downhill a little better against the bigs instead of settling. He’s had a great camp so far, so I’m not worried about that.”

Knecht said he felt comfortable learning spacing in the NBA and getting to know his new teammates on the floor during the Summer League. 

“Finding the right gaps to fill in,” Knecht said, “and be ready to knock down those shots.”

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