A lot of people were surprised when Tennessee Volunteers star Dalton Knecht fell out of the top 10 and was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in this year’s draft. This led Rob Pelinka to hint that the Purple and Gold got the steal of the 2024 NBA Draft in the form of Knecht.
Born in Fargo, North Dakota and hailing from Thornton, Colorado, Knecht’s basketball journey has been marked by steady growth and development.
![Rob Pelinka's Dalton Knecht Comments Hints Los Angeles Lakers Got Steal of NBA Draft 1 Los Angeles Lakers, Dalton Knecht](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_22902016.jpg)
Knecht’s college career began at Northeastern Junior College, where he experienced a significant physical transformation, growing nearly five inches over two years. This growth spurt paved the way for him to transfer to Northern Colorado, where he firmly established himself as a prolific scorer, showcasing his polished offensive skills.
In his final year of eligibility, Knecht took his talents to the SEC, joining the Tennessee Volunteers. It was here that he truly burst onto the national scene, earning conference Player of the Year honors and being named a consensus All-American. Knecht’s versatile offensive game, featuring excellent size, ball-handling abilities, and a lethal shooting touch, made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. He averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, while shooting an impressive 39.7% from beyond the arc.
While Knecht’s defensive prowess may need some refinement at the NBA level, his offensive skill set and high basketball IQ are expected to make him a coveted prospect in the 2024 draft.
Rob Pelinka Hints Los Angeles Lakers Stole the NBA Draft When They Selected Dalton Knecht
![Rob Pelinka's Dalton Knecht Comments Hints Los Angeles Lakers Got Steal of NBA Draft 2 Los Angeles Lakers, Dalton Knecht](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_22902015-scaled.jpg)
After the draft, various personalities gave their take on the Lakers’ decision to select Knecht using the 17th overall pick. Among those individuals is Los Angeles general manager Rob Pelinka, as seen in a video shared by Mark Medina on X.
Rob Pelinka said he and the rest of the Lakers’ front office ranked Dalton Knecht as a top 10 pick pic.twitter.com/EpWCF7BMjf
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) June 27, 2024
In some mock drafts, Knecht was projected to go sixth in the draft. If that projection was followed, the Charlotte Hornets could have selected the Volunteers guard instead of picking forward Tidjane Salaun.
![Rob Pelinka's Dalton Knecht Comments Hints Los Angeles Lakers Got Steal of NBA Draft 3 Los Angeles Lakers, Dalton Knecht](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_22913195-scaled.jpg)
Knecht going to the Lakers is one of the big surprises of the recent draft. With him and Bronny James playing for the Purple and Gold next season, the team’s future is shaping up to be a good one.
![Rob Pelinka's Dalton Knecht Comments Hints Los Angeles Lakers Got Steal of NBA Draft 4 Los Angeles Lakers, Dalton Knecht](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_22913231-1-scaled.jpg)
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