Dalton Knecht's early struggles have been evident during the California Classic, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning what might be causing his performance downturn. The Los Angeles Lakers faced another tough game, falling to the Golden State Warriors 92-68 on Sunday, with Knecht continuing to search for his usual shooting accuracy.
In this recent outing, Knecht managed to score 12 points but did so on a lackluster 3-of-13 shooting in 22 minutes of play. This marks a continuation of his struggles, as he finished a similar 3-of-12 from the floor on Saturday. Through his first two summer league games, Knecht's shooting has hit a concerning low point, making just 2-of-15 on jumpers, translating to a mere 13.3% accuracy.
Although his effectiveness from the field has waned, Knecht hasn't shied away from getting to the free-throw line, where he made 4-of-8 shots at the rim over the two games. What's clear is that Knecht's focus remains unwavering, even if his shots are not finding their mark.
Reflecting on his collegiate career, one might recall Knecht's impressive performance in his final season at Tennessee, where he averaged 21.7 points per game. His shooting prowess was evident, hitting 42.3% of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, according to Synergy Sports. This has left many wondering when Knecht will rediscover his shooting form in the professional ranks.
Knecht's dip in performance is particularly striking, considering he was a consensus top-10 pick leading up to the draft. Expectations were high, but he slid out of the lottery on draft night, now looking to prove his worth to the Lakers and their coaching staff. Despite the early adversity, Knecht's resilience and mindset remain positive.
"Just being patient with it. It's a long summer league. It's going to come," Lakers’ summer league coach Dane Johnson remarked. "He's a great player, so I'm not worried about him missing some of the shots he's taking. He's a great shooter. Let the game come to him. There are some [flashes] where you see that he's got it."
Knecht himself acknowledges the difficulties but embraces the mantra he’s heard throughout his life. "I haven't played since March. Just finding my rhythm again and keep playing with these new guys and keep adjusting," Knecht said. "Shooters shoot. My dad always told me the next shot is going in. Shooters shoot."
With one more game left in the California Classic against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, Knecht will have another opportunity to demonstrate his potential and recalibrate his shooting form. The Lakers and their fans remain hopeful that the young prodigy will find his stride and begin to show the capabilities that made him a standout in college.
While the summer league is often a time for adjustment and growing pains, it is also where future stars can shine. For Dalton Knecht, the lessons learned and the resilience shown during these early stages may well form the foundation of a promising NBA career.