NBA legend Paul Pierce wasn’t very optimistic about Dalton Knecht’s game translating from “small-time” Tennessee to the NBA after the Lakers selected him in the 2024 NBA Draft this past June.
Oh, how wrong Pierce was.
Pierce’s post-draft comments on Knecht on the Fox Sports Undisputed show were exposed by Tennessee fans on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning after the former Vol dropped a new career-high 37 points in an unbelievable game for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
Pierce also referred to Tennessee as a “small-time school” during his post-draft comments.
“I like the pick but you’ve got to understand, like, translating what he did at Tennessee to what you’ve got to do for the Los Angeles Lakers, you go from a small-time school to the Lakers. That’s hard to be somebody who I’m thinking can go and contribute. And, not only is it the Lakers, you’ve got to play with LeBron [James]. So you’ve got to ask yourself, how much can this guy contribute right away?”
The answer to Pierce’s question is, well, a lot.
Knecht is contributing a lot right away.
DALTON KNECHT HAD HIMSELF A NIGHT:
🔥 37 PTS (career high)
🔥 9 3PM (ties rookie record)
🔥 Scored 22 straight for LA@Lakers move 2-0 in #EmiratesNBACup play and are undefeated going back to last season 💯 pic.twitter.com/OjMOeKxY4p— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2024
More from RTI: Dalton Knecht Does It Again, Explodes For Career-High In Lakers Win
While the former Vol still does have some games where he’s finding his footing like any rookie player, Knecht has shown that his shooting ability does translate to the NBA level and it didn’t take long to find that out. Knecht is averaging 11.3 points per game while shooting 52.3% from the floor but has really picked up steam as of late.
In his last five games with the Lakers, Knecht is averaging 66% from three-point range on 22-of-33 shooting from the perimeter. Knecht has also recorded six double-digit scoring games this season with a career-high 37-point showing against Utah on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
Knecht’s average bumps up to 13.0 PPG in the month of November alone.
Knecht is rising up the NBA Rookie of the Year odds charts and is clearly showing that his shooting ability can be held and even expanded on at the next level.
Pierce also mentioned Knecht having to play alongside LeBron James and the challenge that presents, but it looks like James is absolutely loving his new teammate from Tennessee.
“We leaned on Dalton Knecht, that’s what we did,” James said last week as Knecht lifted the Lakers to a victory. “[Anthony Davis] got in foul trouble and our first-round pick hit a hot streak. He looked like he was back at Tennessee. We leaned on him and I just tried to sprinkle in a couple plays here or there.”
Paul Pierce may have gotten sucked into the narrative that Knecht slid in the draft when making those comments. Because, ultimately, Knecht did slide out of the lottery to pick No. 17 with the Lakers.
But it ended up being a huge blessing in disguise. Not only is Los Angeles a team competing for a championship this year, but Knecht can lock into his role as a perimeter shooter and slasher to the basket with other superstars taking up so much attention around him. There’s also no question that head coach JJ Redick loves having Knecht’s offensive ability to pair with his unique offensive sets.
Pierce did give Knecht some compliments at the end of his take but ultimately brought it back around to his skepticism.
“He’s a little older, a little more mature, I like it,” Pierce said. “But for me, I think this is a good opportunity for the Lakers to explore another trade. Possibly for a superstar.”
Can’t imagine that happening anytime soon. Los Angeles would revolt. Just listen to the crowd from Tuesday night.
Yikes @OldTakesExposed pic.twitter.com/ctJDCTpFUi
— Landon Raby (@lambo_raby10) November 20, 2024
