The Los Angeles Lakers selected former Tennessee star Dalton Knecht in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Knecht, who turned 23 in April, led the Volunteers to the Elite 8 in the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. Despite Tennessee’s eventual loss to Purdue, Knecht was named a consensus 2024 first team All-American and the unanimous SEC Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-5 guard also received the Julius Erving Award, given to the nation’s best small forward. Laker fans are hopeful Knecht can provide scoring support for LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Austin Reaves in the upcoming 2024-2025 NBA season.
Knecht, a native of Thornton, Colorado, averaged over 21 points per game in the 2023-2024 season and shot nearly 40% from three-point range.
Knecht’s selection puts an end to speculation that the Lakers would draft LeBron James’ son, Bronny James, in the first round. However, the Lakers still hold the 55th pick in the second round, leaving open the possibility of LeBron playing alongside his son, who declared for the draft after playing with USC.
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