The Los Angeles Lakers were at the heart of All-Star Game controversy during what was meant to be a weekend of positive headlines. After LeBron James made the last-minute decision to sit out, however, negativity was abundant.
James wasn’t the only Lakers player to find himself in critics’ crosshairs, as rookie Dalton Knecht experienced the same.
Knecht and the Rising Stars team, coached by WNBA legend Candace Parker, took part in the All-Star Game Tournament.
The up-and-comers took on Team Shaq, which was headlined by the likes of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum.
Prior to the game, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green ripped the NBA for giving the Rising Stars players a chance to play in the All-Star Game.
“I had to work so hard to play on Sunday night of All-Star Weekend. And because ratings are down and the game is bad, we’re bringing in rising stars. That’s not a fix.”
– Draymond 😳
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )
pic.twitter.com/mYXRnouJ0P
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 17, 2025
Knecht responded both on and off the court, offering up a simple response when reporters asked for his opinion during the latter setting.
Dalton Knecht on Draymond’s criticism: “It’s Draymond. He’s just talking ” pic.twitter.com/rI5tdavJtd
— Lakers Muse (@LALMuse) February 17, 2025
For as strong of a statement as that is, the biggest splash that Knecht made was on the court during Team Candace’s clash with Team Shaq.
Dalton Knecht proved he belonged on the court with All-Stars
Team Shaq pulled out the 42-35 win over Team Candace, with Damian Lillard scoring a game-high nine points. Knecht refused to go gentle into the night, however, showing out with a team-high eight points of his own for Team Candace.
Knecht was the second-highest scorer in the game, matching the scoring output of multi-time All-Stars in Jaylen Brown and Curry.
Beyond the numbers, Knecht took a fearless approach to a big stage with the bright lights shining on him.
He showcased his elite three-point shooting range, as well as his high-level athleticism with the way he glided across the floor and played above the rim with relative ease.
Fresh off of being called out by Green, Knecht stepped up with one of the best performances of any player from either team.
Despite the brief confusion surrounding his Lakers future, it’s been a strong rookie season from Knecht.
He’s averaging 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.6 three-point field goals made in just 20.6 minutes per game, shooting efficiently at a clip of .464/.360/.814.
Knecht’s averages translate to marks of 16.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 three-point field goals per 36 minutes, which isn’t far from what he’s done with the opportunity to play big minutes.
Knecht is averaging 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.8 three-point field goals made across 12 starts. He’s averaged 20.5 points per outing during the eight games in which he’s played at least 30 minutes, and has amassed a career-high of 37 points in a single game.
Knecht may not be an All-Star at this stage of his career, but he put his upside on clear display with the pressure mounting to do so.
