Lakers’ Dalton Knecht Discusses Playing Against LeBron James at All-Star Weekend
Dalton vs. LeBron is on the horizon.
LeBron James Uses Dalton Knecht’s Prediction to Take a Shot at Critics
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht has had quite a dramatic few weeks. At one point, Knecht was set to join the Charlotte Hornets in a trade that would have brought the Lakers the promising young center Mark Williams. However, the Lakers canceled the trade after Williams failed a physical. Now, in an unexpected twist, Knecht finds himself playing for the Lakers, the team that almost traded him away.
Despite the awkward situation, Knecht is adjusting to life as a professional, putting the failed trade behind him. He suited up for the Lakers in their most recent game, a tough loss to the Utah Jazz. On Friday, during the Rising Stars Game, he played a crucial role for Team C, leading them to a dominant victory over the G-League team in the final.
As a reward, they will face Shaquille O’Neal’s OGs in the All-Star Game on Sunday — a team featuring his Lakers teammate, LeBron James. Always competitive, Knecht is excited for the challenge.
“It could be a lot of fun. I get to play against (LeBron), right? So, I’ll be playing against one of my teammates and try to make a statement,” Knecht said, as reported by ClutchPoints’ Jerry Donatien.
Will Dalton Knecht Play a Key Role for the Lakers Moving Forward?
With Luka Dončić’s arrival, there are high expectations for the Lakers as they aim for a deep postseason run. The acquisition of Mark Williams would have been a big boost, filling the gap in the center position after Davis’ departure. However, with the trade falling through, the Lakers must now focus on re-integrating Dalton Knecht, whose future role remains uncertain.
Knecht will likely serve as a key offensive weapon off the bench, but with the Lakers needing to balance offense and defense, his minutes may be limited to around 15 per game.
Jedd Pagaduan, a lifelong Clippers and Gunners fan, channels his sports frustrations into writing about them as a form of therapy.
