Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht is going viral on Friday morning for an explosive, lights-out performance in the Lakers’ NBA preseason game late on Thursday night.
Knecht has been scoring the ball nicely in preseason action but hadn’t recorded one of his patented “unconscious” games that fans in Knoxville grew accustomed to seeing.
Until Thursday night, that is.
Knecht tallied a blistering 35 points on 10-of-18 shooting in just 32 minutes off the bench. NBA talking heads on YouTube and social media have been raving about Knecht in J.J. Redick’s new offense and were certainly proven right on Thursday. The former Vol also added in seven rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and one assist.
Those aren’t even Knecht’s most impressive stats from the night.
Knecht shot a whopping 8-of-13 from behind the arc and hit seven of his eight free throws on the night.
Need more?
Knecht scored 20 straight points for the Lakers across the end of the fourth quarter and overtime to help propel the Lakers’ comeback effort with a six-point victory over the Suns.
It’s only preseason but it feels right to say – Welcome to Association, Dalton Knecht.
Here’s TWENTY STRAIGHT POINTS from Dalton Knecht in the 4Q/OT to lead the @Lakers to the #NBAPreseason win! 😈 pic.twitter.com/flBoBAXkvm
— NBA (@NBA) October 18, 2024
More from RTI: Quick Clip Shows Why People Are So High on Dalton Knecht Entering Rookie Season
The video of Knecht’s 20-straight points is sitting at nearly one million views on X at 9:00 a.m. ET after being posted just before 1:00 a.m. ET. There’s little doubt that the video continues to spread like wildfire as the NBA world reacts to Knecht’s impressive scoring barrage on Thursday night in Phoenix.
The first-round pick from Tennessee has played in all five of the Lakers’ preseason games as Redick continues to ramp up his rookie wing. Knecht is second on the Lakers in scoring with 18.0 points per game, only trailing Lakers star Anthony Davis with 21.8 points per game. Knecht is shooting 43.7 percent from the floor and 36 percent from three-point range after his huge game on Thursday.
The Lakers’ players took to social media with a common nickname:
Knecht 4!!
— 35 (@Chriswood_5) October 18, 2024
Knecht 4!!!
— Jarred Vanderbilt (@JVando) October 18, 2024
The Los Angeles Lakers and Dalton Knecht will tip off the regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Too many clips to pick from. Here’s all of them.
DALTON KNECHT pic.twitter.com/s8OJFNrllh
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 18, 2024
mood pic.twitter.com/4TSHgjxaYA
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 18, 2024
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 18, 2024
35 points.
13 in overtime.
W.Way to go, rook 🫡 pic.twitter.com/7bObW4hd1h
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 18, 2024
