The Los Angeles Lakers have been universally praised for taking University of Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht with the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He was expected by many to be selected within the first 10 picks, but he fell to the Lakers, and it looks like they will therefore have a player who can help right away.
Knecht is a sharpshooter who averaged 21.7 points a game and shot 39.7% from 3-point range while winning the SEC Player of the Year award and the Julius Erving Award during the 2023-24 season. Some feel he is the most NBA-ready player in this year’s draft class, as he can also attack the basket and finish strong at the rim.
The 23-year-old has chosen a jersey number that is fitting and meme-ready: No. 4.
Knecht Four. pic.twitter.com/M9MvwUZpOO
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 28, 2024
It is unknown how well Knecht plays the board game Connect Four. But it looks like he will connect (pun intended) from downtown many times next season and perhaps for seasons to come.
