How Dalton Knecht, other former Tennessee players performed in NBA Summer League

Dalton Knecht’s numbers in the NBA Summer League didn’t look all that different from his one-and-done season at Tennessee. Knecht finished fifth in scoring and led all rookies at 21.3 points per game, scoring 19 or more points in all three of his appearances in Las Vegas with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Knecht in three games averaged his 21.3 points per game on 41.8% shooting from the field and 39.1% shooting from the 3-point line. He also averaged 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals in 31.2 minutes per game. 

“JJ Redick has talked to Coach (Rick Barnes) a few times and he’s been super complimentary of Dalton,” Tennessee assistant coach Rod Clark told reporters on Tuesday in Knoxville. “(He) loves him. He’s been watching film with him, putting extra time in with him. So I think the thing that the Lakers will love most is the willingness to work and be better.”

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Knecht had a game-high 25 points against the Rockets on July 12, with six rebounds and four assists while going 5-for-11 from the 3-point line. He had 19 points against the Boston Celtics three days later, then 20 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 18. 

“I thought he performed really well,” Clark said. “I think sometimes when people watch Summer League, they want guys to score 40, just completely dominate every single game. Where with him he had some games where he was extremely dominant and he showed his shot making ability and his ability to make plays defensively and make guys better. 

“I think that the thing that I’m most proud of watching him in the Summer League is him showing his ability to facilitate, pass the ball. He’s done that at a high level.”

Other former Tennessee players in the NBA Summer League

Keon Johnson averaged 16.0 points, 5.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals over five games, shooting 47.5% from the field in his 29.2 minutes per game. The Summer League production led to Brooklyn signing Johnson to a multi-year deal, after he previously played on a two-way contract with the franchise. 

Santiago Vescovi had 10 points, four rebounds and four assists in his final Summer League game with the Golden State Warriors. He averaged 3.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists over four games, shooting 40.0% from the field and 33.3% from the 3-point line in 12.1 minutes per game. 

Jaden Springer appeared in just one game for the Celtics, scoring 23 points to go with six assists, two steals and two rebounds in 25 minutes. He shot 53.3% from the floor and 50.0% from the 3-point line. 

Julian Phillips played four games in his second Summer League tour with the Chicago Bulls, averaging 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 32.5 minutes per game. He shot 40.5% from the field and 36.8% from the 3-point line.

Kennedy Chandler averaged 12.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in five games with the Portland Trail Blazers. He shot 52.0% from the field in 23.8 minutes per game. 

Jordan Bowden averaged 13.3 points in three games with the Atlanta Hawks, shooting 34.8% from the 3-point line while also averaging 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals in 25.8 minutes per game.

Josiah-Jordan James played in the final three Summer League games for the Indiana Pacers, averaging 1.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 11.7 minutes per game. He had three points, four rebounds and two steals on July 18 against the Denver Nuggets. He had six rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes against the Cavaliers.