Dalton Knecht’s past week has been an absolute rollercoaster ride, to put it mildly. The rookie guard was traded to the Charlotte Hornets just before the deadline, as part of a deal that sent center Mark Williams to Los Angeles. However, after Williams failed his physical, the trade was canceled, forcing Knecht and Cam Reddish to return to the Lakers.

This created a rather awkward situation for Knecht, a rookie who had never experienced being traded, especially one that sent him back to the very team that had just moved him. After playing his first game back with the Lakers, Knecht opened up about how excited he was to rejoin the team and just focus on basketball, as reported by Spectrum SportsNet:

“It was a crazy time. Not many people have been through something like that and come back. But at the end of the day, I just wanted to play ball. I told JJ and Rob when I returned, that the most important thing was just getting back to playing. I was eager to get out there, and when they told me Wednesday would be my return, I was pumped to get back on the court with my teammates.”

Knecht went into more detail about his wild week, moving between the Lakers and Hornets:

“It felt like something out of a movie. After the game, I came back the next day and was getting some shots up in the gym. I usually shoot 25 free throws before practice, but after 20, Rob called me to come upstairs and gave me the news. It was tough since I got drafted here, and L.A. means a lot to me. So, hearing that I was being traded, I flew to Charlotte the next morning to meet the team. Then, I went to Detroit for what was supposed to be my debut, only to fly back to L.A. after Rob called and said I was coming back. No matter where I was, I just wanted to play ball. I made that clear to JJ and Rob. I understand it’s a business, but at the end of the day, I just wanted to go out and play.”

Some questioned why Knecht didn’t suit up for the Lakers on Monday, but after a discussion with head coach JJ Redick, they decided it was best to wait until Wednesday:

“We had a conversation as soon as I got back. We talked through everything, and we both agreed it was better for me to wait until Wednesday to play since I had gotten in so late from my flight. I was excited to play and get back to doing what I love—competing and playing alongside my teammates.”

Despite the challenges, Knecht’s mindset remains focused, and now that he’s officially back with the Lakers, he can concentrate on helping the team as they push through the remainder of the season.