LA Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht took the most shot attempts during the team’s 107-102 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. Although his shooting wasn’t at its best, Knecht had the full confidence of his teammates and coaching staff, including that of franchise superstar LeBron James.
The former Tennessee forward attempted 16 shots, with 10 coming from beyond the arc. Overall, the rookie connected just five of 16 attempts, including two successful 3-pointers.
After the game, Knecht explained why he continued shooting despite struggling from the floor. The Lakers rookie shared what LeBron told him while he was on the sidelines, motivating him to keep going.
“When I was on the sidelines, Bron was telling me, ‘Just keep shooting.’ He don’t care what I shoot,” Knecht told reporters after the game. “Same with JJ (Redick). They said they don’t really care what I shoot, just keeping them up and keep letting them fly.”
LeBron has praised Knecht’s potential publicly on several occasions. Before the Lakers’ preseason game against the Phoenix Suns, the four-time NBA champion referred to Knecht as a professional and expressed his confidence in the rookie’s ability to succeed in the NBA.
Despite his shooting struggles against the Bucks, Knecht showcased his ability to make an impact in other areas. The former Northern Colorado standout finished with 13 points, but his hustle on the offensive boards was the highlight of his performance.
The Lakers rookie pulled down eight rebounds, including an impressive six on the offensive end. He also contributed four assists and one steal, demonstrating his all-around game.
Dalton Knecht yet to light it up from 3-point range
Dalton Knecht is known for his sharpshooting from beyond the arc, among other skills. In three preseason games, the rookie is yet to catch fire from 3-point range as he seeks a breakout performance.
Knecht is averaging 12 points on 39.5% shooting overall, but just 20.8% from deep in the preseason. Despite attempting 24 3-pointers, the Lakers rookie has only converted five.
Knecht is expected to play a key role for the Lakers once the regular season begins, particularly because of his size, strength, skill and relentless attacking mindset. While his offensive skills are well known, ihis competitiveness in other areas has really caught the attention in the preseason.
