Dalton Knecht
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 theLos 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 professionalbasketballplayer for theLos Angeles Lakersof theNational Basketball Association(NBA). He playedcollege basketballfor theNortheastern JC Plainsmen,theNorthern Colorado Bears,and theTennessee Volunteers.
Early life and high school career
[edit]Knecht is the son of Corey and Carrie Knecht.[1]Knecht was born inFargo, North Dakotaand grew up inThornton, 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 atNortheastern Junior CollegeinSterling, Colorado.[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 toNorthern Coloradoto 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 theBig Sky Conferencewith 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 the2020–21 seasondue to theCOVID-19 pandemicand entered theNCAA transfer portal.[12]
Knecht transferred toTennesseefor the2023–24 season.[13][14]He was named theSoutheastern Conference(SEC) Player of the Week for the first week of the season after scoring 17 points in the Volunteers' season-opening win overTennessee Techand 24 points with five rebounds in a 80–70 road victory overWisconsinon November 10, 2023.[15]Knecht scored a then-career-high 37 points in a 100–92 loss toNorth Carolinaon 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 toMississippi Stateand 36 points in an 85–79 win overGeorgia.[17]Knecht set a then career high with 39 points in a 85–66 win overFloridaon January 16, 2024.[18]On February 29, 2024, Knecht tied his then-career high with 39 points against the 11th-rankedAuburnin 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-rankedKentucky.[20]
Knecht was namedSEC Player of the Yearby both the league's coaches[21]and theAssociated Press(AP).[22]He was also namedSEC Newcomer of the Yearby the AP.[22][a]
Professional career
[edit]Los Angeles Lakers (2024–present)
[edit]Knecht was selected with the 17th overall pick by theLos Angeles Lakersin the2024 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 goalpercentage | 3P% | 3-point field goalpercentage | FT% | Free throwpercentage |
RPG | Reboundsper game | APG | Assistsper game | SPG | Stealsper game |
BPG | Blocksper 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'sReed Sheppardin 2024.[21]
References
[edit]- ^"Dalton Knecht - Men's Basketball".University of Tennessee Athletics.RetrievedJuly 26,2024.
- ^Bowlin, Ryan (June 27, 2024)."#NDProud: Fargo Born Dalton Knecht Drafted No. 17 by LA Lakers".KVRR Local News.RetrievedJune 29,2024.
- ^Tobey, Jacob (January 28, 2023)."Colorado native Dalton Knecht helping lead UNC basketball".9news.com.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
- ^"PHOTOS: Tennessee's Dalton Knecht set to join LeBron in LA as Enderlin celebrates".Jamestown Sun.June 27, 2024.RetrievedJune 29,2024.
- ^abcLambert, Terry A. (April 21, 2023)."Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht commits to Tennessee".RockyTopTalk.com.SB Nation.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
- ^Watson-Fisher, Jadyn (November 12, 2020)."Northern Colorado athletic programs add 20 signees to 2021 rosters".The Fort Morgan Times.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
- ^"Dalton Knecht".Northeastern Junior College.RetrievedJune 28,2024.
- ^abPisani, Hart (November 12, 2020)."NJC's Dalton Knecht signs with UNC Bears".Journal-Advocate.RetrievedNovember 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.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
- ^Ankony, Jack (April 5, 2023)."Indiana To Meet With Northern Colorado Transfer Dalton Knecht".SI.com.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
- ^Watson-Fisher, Jadyn (March 14, 2023)."Dalton Knecht becomes fourth Bear to earn NABC All-District honors".Greeley Tribune.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
- ^Watson-Fisher, Jadyn (March 23, 2023)."Northern Colorado men's basketball: Dalton Knecht enters transfer portal".Greeley Tribune.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
- ^Moore, CJ; Vecenie, Sam (April 21, 2023)."Former Northern Colorado guard Dalton Knecht transfers to Tennessee".The Athletic.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
- ^"Dalton Knecht offers what Tennessee basketball has been missing".Knoxville News Sentinel.November 11, 2023.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
- ^Lidskin, Jonathan (November 14, 2023)."Dalton Knecht Named SEC Player Of The Week".SI.com.RetrievedNovember 17,2023.
- ^Paschall, David (November 29, 2023)."Knecht's 37 points not enough as Vols fall at North Carolina".Chattanooga Times Free Press.RetrievedDecember 15,2023.
- ^Taylor, Noah (January 15, 2024)."Vols' guard Dalton Knecht named Co-SEC Player of the Week".Rivals.com.RetrievedJanuary 17,2024.
- ^Wilson, Mike (January 16, 2024)."Dalton Knecht scorches Florida as Tennessee basketball rolls Gators".Knoxville News Sentinel.RetrievedMarch 8,2024.
- ^"Auburn Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Live Score and Stats - February 28, 2024 Gametracker".CBSSports.com.RetrievedMarch 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.RetrievedJune 28,2024.
- ^ab"2024 SEC Men's Basketball Awards announced"(Press release). Southeastern Conference. March 11, 2024.RetrievedMarch 11,2024.
- ^abZenor, 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.RetrievedMarch 12,2024.
- ^McMenamin, Dave (June 27, 2024)."Lakers thrilled with Dalton Knecht pick: 'Extraordinary' value".ESPN.com.RetrievedJune 27,2024.
- ^"Los Angeles Lakers Sign Dalton Knecht and Bronny James".NBA.com.July 3, 2024.RetrievedJuly 3,2024.
External links
[edit]- 2001 births
- Living people
- All-American college men's basketball players
- American men's basketball players
- Basketball players from Colorado
- Basketball players from North Dakota
- Junior college men's basketball players in the United States
- Los Angeles Lakers draft picks
- Northern Colorado Bears men's basketball players
- People from Thornton, Colorado
- Shooting guards
- Small forwards
- Sportspeople from Fargo, North Dakota
- Sportspeople from the Denver metropolitan area
- Tennessee Volunteers basketball players
- 21st-century American sportsmen