LeBron James Commends Dalton Knecht After Tying NBA Rookie Record With Nine 3-Pointers

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Dalton Knecht's remarkable performance against the Utah Jazz drew high praise from LeBron James. Knecht matched the NBA's single-game rookie record by hitting nine 3-pointers, including a perfect 6-for-6 in the third quarter. He scored a career-high 37 points, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-118 victory, marking their sixth consecutive win.

The Lakers' current winning streak is their longest since February 2021. They have also maintained an unbeaten home record this season, now standing at 7-0. Knecht's achievement places him alongside Rodrigue Beaubois (2010), Yogi Ferrell (2017), and Utah's Keyonte George (2024) in sharing this rookie record.

LeBron James, who contributed 26 points and 12 assists in the game, has been a long-time admirer of Knecht. "Same s*** I saw last year," James remarked when asked about his early recognition of Knecht's talent. James had followed Knecht's college career at Tennessee closely.

James expressed disbelief at how other teams overlooked Knecht during the draft. "Everybody on the internet called me a liar," he said, referring to his earlier predictions about Knecht's potential. "I watched him. I watched Tennessee a lot. I did not think he would fall to us."

Knecht was selected as the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. James dismissed any notion that the Lakers 'discovered' him, stating, "They [The Lakers] didn't 'find' DK." He criticized other teams for missing out on such talent: "The other 16 teams f***** it up."

James emphasized that finding an SEC Player of the Year like Knecht should have been straightforward for any team paying attention to college basketball talent.

The Lakers continue to build momentum with their impressive form this season, driven by standout performances like those from Dalton Knecht and LeBron James.