Dalton Knecht
![]() Knecht in 2024 | |
No. 4 – Los Angeles Lakers | |
---|---|
Position | Small forward |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Fargo, North Dakota, U.S. | April 19, 2001
Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Prairie View (Henderson, Colorado) |
College |
|
NBA draft | 2024: 1st round, 17th overall pick |
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
Playing career | 2024–present |
Career history | |
2024–present | Los Angeles Lakers |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Dalton Douglas Knecht (/kəˈnɛkt/ kə-NEKT; born April 19, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Northeastern JC Plainsmen, the Northern Colorado Bears, and the Tennessee Volunteers.
Early life and high school career
[edit]Knecht is the son of Corey and Carrie Knecht. [1] Knecht was born in Fargo, North Dakota and grew up in Thornton, Colorado, attending Prairie View High School.[2][3][4] He entered his sophomore year at 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) and grew to 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) by his junior year.[5] Knecht averaged 21 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a senior.[6]
College career
[edit]Knecht began his college basketball career at Northeastern Junior College.[7] He grew another two inches between his senior high school season and his first season with the Plainsmen.[5] Knecht averaged 13.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game as a freshman.[8] He averaged 23.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and two assists per game as a sophomore.[9] Knecht grew another three inches during his time playing at Northeastern Junior College to bring his height to 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m).[5] He committed to transfer to Northern Colorado to continue his college career.[8]
Knecht averaged 8.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in his first season with the Northern Colorado Bears.[10] As a senior, he led the Big Sky Conference with 20.2 points per game and averaged 7.2 rebounds per game.[11] After the season, Knecht decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and entered the NCAA transfer portal.[12]
Knecht transferred to Tennessee for the 2023–24 season.[13][14] He was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Week for the first week of the season after scoring 17 points in the Volunteers' season-opening win over Tennessee Tech and 24 points with five rebounds in a 80–70 road victory over Wisconsin on November 10, 2023.[15] Knecht scored a then-career-high 37 points in a 100–92 loss to North Carolina on November 29, 2023.[16] He was named the SEC Player of the Week a second time on January 15, 2024, after scoring 28 points in a 77–72 loss to Mississippi State and 36 points in an 85–79 win over Georgia.[17] Knecht set a then career high with 39 points in a 85–66 win over Florida on January 16, 2024.[18] On February 29, 2024, Knecht tied his then-career high with 39 points against the 11th-ranked Auburn in a 92–84 win.[19] On March 9, 2024, Knecht set a new career high on senior night with 40 points in an 85–81 loss to 15th-ranked Kentucky.[20]
Knecht was named SEC Player of the Year by both the league's coaches[21] and the Associated Press (AP).[22] He was also named SEC Newcomer of the Year by the AP.[22][a]
Professional career
[edit]Los Angeles Lakers (2024–present)
[edit]Knecht was selected with the 17th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024 NBA draft[23] and he signed with them on July 3, 2024.[24]
Career statistics
[edit]GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College
[edit]NCAA Division I
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | Northern Colorado | 35 | 11 | 24.1 | .436 | .361 | .753 | 3.6 | .9 | .5 | .5 | 8.9 |
2022–23 | Northern Colorado | 32 | 32 | 35.3 | .479 | .381 | .771 | 7.2 | 1.8 | .8 | .6 | 20.2 |
2023–24 | Tennessee | 36 | 36 | 30.6 | .458 | .397 | .772 | 4.9 | 1.8 | .7 | .6 | 21.7 |
Career | 103 | 79 | 29.8 | .461 | .383 | .768 | 5.2 | 1.5 | .7 | .6 | 16.9 |
JUCO
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019–20 | Northeastern JC | 31 | 14 | — | .504 | .451 | .786 | 2.9 | 1.1 | .5 | .3 | 13.3 |
2020–21 | Northeastern JC | 20 | 20 | — | .512 | .395 | .818 | 7.5 | 2.0 | .7 | .5 | 23.9 |
Career | 51 | 34 | — | .508 | .432 | .807 | 4.7 | 1.5 | .6 | .3 | 17.5 |
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ The Newcomer of the Year award is one of two awards presented to the top player in his first season of SEC play. The league's coaches vote on a Freshman of the Year award, restricted to players in their first season playing college basketball; this award went to Kentucky's Reed Sheppard in 2024.[21]
References
[edit]- ^ "Dalton Knecht - Men's Basketball". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Bowlin, Ryan (June 27, 2024). "#NDProud: Fargo Born Dalton Knecht Drafted No. 17 by LA Lakers". KVRR Local News. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ Tobey, Jacob (January 28, 2023). "Colorado native Dalton Knecht helping lead UNC basketball". 9news.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ "PHOTOS: Tennessee's Dalton Knecht set to join LeBron in LA as Enderlin celebrates". Jamestown Sun. June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c Lambert, Terry A. (April 21, 2023). "Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht commits to Tennessee". RockyTopTalk.com. SB Nation. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ Watson-Fisher, Jadyn (November 12, 2020). "Northern Colorado athletic programs add 20 signees to 2021 rosters". The Fort Morgan Times. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ "Dalton Knecht". Northeastern Junior College. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Pisani, Hart (November 12, 2020). "NJC's Dalton Knecht signs with UNC Bears". Journal-Advocate. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ Ramey, Grant (August 9, 2023). "In Italy Dalton Knecht showed why when he shoots 'you feel good about it going in'". On3.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ Ankony, Jack (April 5, 2023). "Indiana To Meet With Northern Colorado Transfer Dalton Knecht". SI.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ Watson-Fisher, Jadyn (March 14, 2023). "Dalton Knecht becomes fourth Bear to earn NABC All-District honors". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ Watson-Fisher, Jadyn (March 23, 2023). "Northern Colorado men's basketball: Dalton Knecht enters transfer portal". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ Moore, CJ; Vecenie, Sam (April 21, 2023). "Former Northern Colorado guard Dalton Knecht transfers to Tennessee". The Athletic. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ "Dalton Knecht offers what Tennessee basketball has been missing". Knoxville News Sentinel. November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ Lidskin, Jonathan (November 14, 2023). "Dalton Knecht Named SEC Player Of The Week". SI.com. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ Paschall, David (November 29, 2023). "Knecht's 37 points not enough as Vols fall at North Carolina". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ^ Taylor, Noah (January 15, 2024). "Vols' guard Dalton Knecht named Co-SEC Player of the Week". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Wilson, Mike (January 16, 2024). "Dalton Knecht scorches Florida as Tennessee basketball rolls Gators". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ "Auburn Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Live Score and Stats - February 28, 2024 Gametracker". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Rexrode, Joe (March 10, 2024). "Vols' loss to Kentucky despite Dalton Knecht's 40 makes SEC tournament mission clear". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ a b "2024 SEC Men's Basketball Awards announced" (Press release). Southeastern Conference. March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Zenor, John (March 12, 2024). "Tennessee's Dalton Knecht named AP's SEC player of year; South Carolina's Paris is coach of year". Associated Press. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ McMenamin, Dave (June 27, 2024). "Lakers thrilled with Dalton Knecht pick: 'Extraordinary' value". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ "Los Angeles Lakers Sign Dalton Knecht and Bronny James". NBA.com. July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.