Dalton Knecht is quickly climbing the rookie ranks after dropping a career-high 37 points in a win against the Jazz. Some may have been surprised by that explosive output, but LeBron James knew it was coming.
“I watched Tennessee a lot. I did not think he was going to fall to us,” James told reporters about Knecht after the game. “I thought it would be impossible. I have no idea how that happened. I’m very grateful. I knew exactly what we was getting when he fell to 17.”
Knecht was certainly an ultra-talented scorer in college, but at least part of his early success has to do with the great fit he’s found with the Lakers. Not only has JJ Redick installed perfect offensive sets for him, but he’s also benefiting from an instant trust and chemistry with James.
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LeBron James and Dalton have a natural Knechtion
Nobody on the Lakers has set up Knecht more than James, whose 12 assists to his rookie have shown how well the two work together.
James’ ability to map the court out at all times in his head has led to some beautiful spoon-fed baskets that far exceed what Knecht got at Tennessee.
Knecht and James also work well together because of how deadly Knecht is in transition. He’s more than just a 3-point shooter — he was a three-level scorer in college who could throw down some vicious dunks with plus athleticism.
James looks for him frequently down the floor, even getting him a layup while taking the ball out of the Lakers’ own basket.
MORE: Why Dalton Knecht fell to Lakers in NBA Draft
Knecht helps James be at his best as well.
James needs shooters around him because teams still crowd the paint against him even at the age of 40. He’s most dangerous when going downhill on drives, and defenses usually try to throw an extra defender into his driving gaps to slow him down.
That simply cannot happen with Knecht on the floor. Watch Jazz star Lauri Markkanen make that mistake:
The way those two naturally play off each other has led to the Lakers playing much better this season when they share the floor.
Los Angeles has outscored opponents by 4.25 points per 100 possessions when James and Knecht play in the same lineup, per PBP Stats. When James is without Knecht, the Lakers have gotten outscored by 4.29 points per 100 possessions. Knecht’s floor spacing has been that much of a difference-maker.
This all works because of the level of trust that James has in his new favorite shooter. When he gives Knecht the ball, he feels like it’s going in every time.
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That faith is based on what James saw at Tennessee. When asked on Tuesday what he saw from Knecht last year versus now, James gave a frank response.
“I don’t know. The same s— I said last year. Everybody on the internet calls me a liar all the time. They say I lie about everything. So what am I now? I’ve been said it. I watched him.”
James saw Knecht hitting 39.7 percent of his 3s last year at Tennessee and knows that his rookie can bomb away. It’s been a terrific pairing between a basketball genius and a shooting prodigy.
