Dalton Knecht Explained

Dalton Douglas Knecht (; born April 19, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Northeastern JC Plainsmen, the Northern Colorado Bears, and the Tennessee Volunteers.

Early life and high school career

Knecht is the son of Corey and Carrie Knecht. ^[1] Knecht was born in Fargo, North Dakota and grew up in Thornton, Colorado, attending Prairie View High School.^{[2] [3] [4]} He entered his sophomore year at and grew to by his junior year.^[5] Knecht averaged 21 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a senior.^[6]

College career

Knecht began his college basketball career at Northeastern Junior College.^[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 .^[5] He committed to transfer to Northern Colorado to 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 the Big Sky Conference with 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 the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and entered the NCAA transfer portal.^[12]

Knecht transferred to Tennessee for the 2023–24 season.^{[13] [14]} He was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Week for the first week of the season after scoring 17 points in the Volunteers' season-opening win over Tennessee Tech and 24 points with five rebounds in a 80–70 road victory over Wisconsin on November 10, 2023.^[15] Knecht scored a then-career-high 37 points in a 100–92 loss to North Carolina on 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 to Mississippi State and 36 points in an 85–79 win over Georgia.^[17] Knecht set a then career high with 39 points in a 85–66 win over Florida on January 16, 2024.^[18] On February 29, 2024, Knecht tied his then-career high with 39 points against the 11th-ranked Auburn in 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-ranked Kentucky.^[20]

Knecht was named SEC Player of the Year by both the league's coaches^[21] and the Associated Press (AP).^[22] He was also named SEC Newcomer of the Year by the AP.^[22]

Professional career

Los Angeles Lakers (2024–present)

Knecht was selected with the 17th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024 NBA draft^[23] and he signed with them on July 3, 2024.^[24]

Career statistics

College

NCAA Division I

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Northern Colorado| 35 || 11 || 24.1 || .436 || .361 || .753 || 3.6 || .9 || .5 || .5 || 8.9|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23| style="text-align:left;"| Northern Colorado| 32 || 32 || 35.3 || .479 || .381 || .771 || 7.2 || 1.8 || .8 || .6 || 20.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24| style="text-align:left;"| Tennessee| 36 || 36 || 30.6 || .458 || .397 || .772 || 4.9 || 1.8 || .7 || .6 || 21.7|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 103 || 79 || 29.8 || .461 || .383 || .768 || 5.2 || 1.5 || .7 || .6 || 16.9

JUCO

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Northeastern JC| 31 || 14 || — || .504 || .451 || .786 || 2.9 || 1.1 || .5 || .3 || 13.3|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Northeastern JC| 20 || 20 || — || .512 || .395 || .818 || 7.5 || 2.0 || .7 || .5 || 23.9|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 51 || 34 || — || .508 || .432 || .807 || 4.7 || 1.5 || .6 || .3 || 17.5

External links

• Tennessee Volunteers bio
• Northern Colorado Bears bio
• Northeastern Plainsmen bio

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dalton Knecht - Men's Basketball . University of Tennessee Athletics . 26 July 2024 . en.
2. Web site: Bowlin . Ryan . 2024-06-27 . #NDProud: Fargo Born Dalton Knecht Drafted No. 17 by LA Lakers . 2024-06-29 . KVRR Local News . en-US.
3. Web site: Colorado native Dalton Knecht helping lead UNC basketball. Jacob. Tobey. 9news.com. January 28, 2023. November 11, 2023.
4. Web site: 2024-06-27 . PHOTOS: Tennessee's Dalton Knecht set to join LeBron in LA as Enderlin celebrates . 2024-06-29 . Jamestown Sun . en.
5. Web site: Northern Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht commits to Tennessee. Terry A.. Lambert. RockyTopTalk.com. SB Nation. April 21, 2023. November 11, 2023.
6. Web site: Watson-Fisher . Jadyn . November 12, 2020 . Northern Colorado athletic programs add 20 signees to 2021 rosters . November 11, 2023 . The Fort Morgan Times.
7. Web site: Dalton Knecht . 2024-06-28 . Northeastern Junior College . en.
8. Web site: Pisani . Hart . November 12, 2020 . NJC's Dalton Knecht signs with UNC Bears . November 11, 2023 . Journal-Advocate.
9. Web site: In Italy Dalton Knecht showed why when he shoots 'you feel good about it going in'. Grant. Ramey. On3.com. August 9, 2023. November 11, 2023.
10. Web site: Indiana To Meet With Northern Colorado Transfer Dalton Knecht. Jack. Ankony. SI.com. April 5, 2023. November 11, 2023.
11. Web site: Watson-Fisher . Jadyn . March 14, 2023 . Dalton Knecht becomes fourth Bear to earn NABC All-District honors . November 11, 2023 . Greeley Tribune.
12. Web site: Watson-Fisher . Jadyn . March 23, 2023 . Northern Colorado men’s basketball: Dalton Knecht enters transfer portal . November 11, 2023 . Greeley Tribune.
13. Web site: Former Northern Colorado guard Dalton Knecht transfers to Tennessee. CJ. Moore. Sam. Vecenie. The Athletic. April 21, 2023. November 11, 2023.
14. Web site: Dalton Knecht offers what Tennessee basketball has been missing. Knoxville News Sentinel. November 11, 2023. November 11, 2023.
15. Web site: Dalton Knecht Named SEC Player Of The Week. Jonathan. Lidskin. SI.com. November 14, 2023. November 17, 2023.
16. Web site: Paschall . David . November 29, 2023 . Knecht's 37 points not enough as Vols fall at North Carolina . December 15, 2023 . Chattanooga Times Free Press.
17. Web site: Vols' guard Dalton Knecht named Co-SEC Player of the Week. Noah. Taylor. Rivals.com. January 15, 2024. January 17, 2024.
18. Web site: Wilson . Mike . January 16, 2024 . Dalton Knecht scorches Florida as Tennessee basketball rolls Gators . 2024-03-08 . Knoxville News Sentinel . en-US.
19. Web site: Auburn Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Live Score and Stats - February 28, 2024 Gametracker . March 6, 2024 . CBSSports.com . en.
20. Web site: Rexrode . Joe . March 10, 2024 . Vols' loss to Kentucky despite Dalton Knecht's 40 makes SEC tournament mission clear . 2024-06-28 . The New York Times . en-US.
21. 2024 SEC Men's Basketball Awards announced . Southeastern Conference . March 11, 2024 . March 11, 2024.
22. News: Tennessee's Dalton Knecht named AP's SEC player of year; South Carolina's Paris is coach of year . John . Zenor . Associated Press . March 12, 2024 . March 12, 2024.
23. Web site: Dave. McMenamin. Lakers thrilled with Dalton Knecht pick: 'Extraordinary' value. ESPN.com. June 27, 2024. June 27, 2024.
24. Web site: Los Angeles Lakers Sign Dalton Knecht and Bronny James. NBA.com. July 3, 2024. July 3, 2024.