Dalton Knecht has been facing challenges in finding his rhythm during the California Classic, which has seen the Los Angeles Lakers grappling to establish their game. In the most recent clash, the Lakers fell to the Golden State Warriors with a significant 92-68 loss on Sunday.
In that game, Knecht managed to score 12 points, but his shooting was far from his best, making just 3-of-13 attempts from the floor in his 22 minutes of play. This follows a similar performance on Saturday, where he finished with a 3-of-12 shooting record. Across his first two summer league games, Knecht has been struggling, hitting only 2-of-15 jumpers, which translates to a mere 13.3% accuracy.
Despite these shooting woes, Knecht has shown some efforts near the rim and at the free-throw line. He has made his way to the line 14 times and converted half of his eight shots at the rim. These efforts, however, pale in comparison to his stellar collegiate career. In his final season at Tennessee, Knecht averaged an impressive 21.7 points per game and hit 42.3% of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, according to Synergy Sports.
The Lakers' summer league coach, Dane Johnson, expressed his confidence in Knecht's abilities, stating, "Just being patient with it. It's a long summer league. It's going to come. He's a great player, so I'm not worried about him missing some of the shots he's taking. He's a great shooter. Let the game come to him. There are some [flashes] where you see that he's got it."
Indeed, Knecht's pedigree was highlighted in the lead-up to the draft, where he was a consensus top-10 pick. However, he slid out of the lottery on draft night, landing in a position where he now faces the arduous task of proving his worth on the court.
Knecht himself remains positive about rediscovering his form. "I haven't played since March. Just finding my rhythm again and keep playing with these new guys and keep adjusting. ... Shooters shoot. My dad always told me the next shot is going in. Shooters shoot," he shared.
The Lakers are set for one more game in the California Classic, where they will face the Miami Heat on Wednesday. This final match gives Knecht a platform to showcase his skills and potentially turn the tide of his shooting struggles.
For a player who dazzled in his college years with consistent scoring and impressive shooting percentages, the summer league is a different arena presenting new challenges. The transition from college to professional basketball can be daunting, and early struggles are not uncommon among rookies. However, with the support from his coaching staff and his own determined mindset, there's hope that Dalton Knecht can find his groove and start contributing effectively to the Lakers' summer league campaign.
As the summer league progresses, all eyes will be on Knecht to see if he can live up to his collegiate reputation and the high expectations set before him. With patience from the coaching staff and perseverance from Knecht, the Lakers are optimistic that their young talent can overcome this rough patch and begin to shine once more.