The Los Angeles Lakers surged up to third in the Western Conference standings on Saturday night, riding a dominant all-around performance to a 124-108 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. While the star trio of Luka Doncic (35 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists), Austin Reaves (30 points, 7 assists), and LeBron James (27 points, 8 assists) led the way, it was rookie Dalton Knecht who delivered a key spark off the bench.
Knecht, who was a DNP in Friday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors, made the most of his return to the rotation—dropping 10 quick points early in the contest to steady the ship as the Lakers trailed. He would go on to finish with 12 points on 50% shooting, playing a crucial role in helping LA seize control of the game and cruise to victory.
Redick told reporters before the game that Knecht would be reinserted into the rotation. Speaking postgame, the former Tennessee Volunteer shared his mindset after his head coach’s decision.
Mainly just when my name is called, go out there and be me,” Knecht said. “Be ready to shoot and my teammates have my back every single time I step out on the court. They want me to be aggressive and that’s what I kind of do, so shoutout to all my vets.”
The 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Knecht has endeared himself to the Lakers fanbase with his fearless play and high energy. He’s averaging 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 73 appearances this season, and his popularity hasn’t gone unnoticed.
It’s real cool that I’m a fan favorite,” he added. “So every time I step out on the court and hear them cheer, I try to go out and put on a show for them. I think that’s what all of us try to do, just go put on a show for the Lakers. They have a great fanbase.
Knecht’s standout moment this season remains his career-high 37-point explosion in a win over the Utah Jazz back in November, but his latest outing proves he’s ready for the big stage again as LA heads toward the playoffs.
With just five games left, the Lakers will look to maintain their momentum and lean on both their stars and emerging contributors like Knecht as they push for their first NBA championship since 2020.
