Built to handle the metaphorical "chess matches" and mental games of the professional level immediately upon arrival, Dalton Knecht needed just one regular-season game to confirm the somewhat already-known. The nickname may be “Knecht Four,” but, given a little space, the Los Angeles Lakers will gladly take the challenge of also connecting for three. A relative splitting image of his new head coach upon pairing his teammate’s screen with a perfectly-timed float towards the top of the arc, the No. 17 pick cashes in on a wide-open catch-and-shoot 3-pointer, capturing his first-ever NBA points. Immediate in leaving analysts to wonder if opposing GMs might regret allowing him to slide, Knecht, in a well-used 16 minutes of action, turned in five points (on two-of-four shooting), one rebound, two assists, one steal, and one trifecta. Knecht’s efforts were accompanied by good fortunes, as the Lakers overcame the Minnesota Timberwolves’ pesky play for a season-opening win on October 22, 2024. · Oct 23, 2024