New Lakers head coach JJ Redick has been coaching Dalton Knecht longer than he realizes.
Knecht was selected with the 17th overall pick on Day 1 of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday and joined the Lakers organization after playing last season at the University of Tennessee.
Redick has only been officially named head coach of the Lakers for a few days, but the 15-year NBA veteran has already been unwittingly passing on knowledge to Knecht during their college days.
“I’m really excited,” Knecht told reporters after being selected at Barclays Center. “I watched J.J. Redick a lot in Tennessee with the coaches. [Rick] “Barnes and the way he moves, his pace and his ability to create space. He’s earned it. I’m very excited and it’s going to be really special.”
Knecht, who played two seasons at the University of Northern Colorado, joined the Lakers as a much-needed shooter after averaging 21.7 points per game on 46.1 percent shooting in his final season with the Volunteers.
Knecht also shot 40 percent from three-point range.
He has averaged over 20 points per game each of the past two seasons.
The Lakers draft pick is clearly a fan of Redick, but there are already others in the Lakers locker room who are fans of him, including LeBron James.
James specifically called out Knecht earlier this year while discussing why basketball fans tune in for certain players.
The footage resurfaced and went viral after Knecht was drafted in the first round by the Lakers.
“I remember that video, waking up and getting out of bed and thinking it was fake because so many people were messaging me. I was like, ‘No way.’ Knecht said, according to The Athletic..
The Lakers’ pick was seen by many as a bargain for a player Los Angeles needed.
