"He said, 'I'm always ready'": JJ Redick reveals Dalton Knecht's cold reply before knocking down 'big shot' vs. Kings
Dalton Knecht has enjoyed an impressive start to his NBA career, making key contributions to the Lakers’ early success in the season’s first three games. In Saturday’s game against the Sacramento Kings, Knecht once again delivered a solid performance off the bench, helping the Lakers secure a 131-127 home victory.
After the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick praised the rookie's confidence in taking "big shots," specifically highlighting Knecht's crucial 3-pointer that tipped off the fourth quarter. While LeBron James dominated down the stretch, it was the former Tennessee standout who set the Lakers’ momentum rolling in the final period.
During the post-game press conference, Lakers coach Redick shared that he had asked Knecht before the start of the fourth quarter if he was ready to make a shot. According to Redick, Knecht’s response was:
"I'm always ready."
The rookie was more than ready as he received an assist from Jaxson Hayes and sank the 3-point shot with confidence. Overall, Knecht had a strong performance off the bench, scoring 10 points on 4 of 7 shooting, including 2 of 5 from beyond the arc.
Dalton Knecht leads all Lakers in plus/minus
It’s still early in the 2024-25 NBA season, but the Lakers have tipped off their campaign in impressive fashion. Following Saturday's win over the Sacramento Kings, LeBron James and Co. improved to a 3-0 record. Rookie Dalton Knecht has also contributed to the Lakers' perfect start to the season.
Knecht currently leads the Lakers and all rookies in plus/minus, with a +12 after three games. The former Tennessee star posted a +7 in 16 minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a +13 in 13 minutes against the Phoenix Suns and a +16 in 20 minutes against the Kings.
The most impressive aspect of Knecht’s performance for the Lakers so far has been his fearless approach in taking big shots and making momentum-shifting plays. Even coach Redick previously praised the rookie’s brave mindset.
"The thing about him is just the mentality," Redick said after Knecht's 35-point performance against the Suns in preseason. "It’s been very obvious in pickup before the season, in training camp, thus far in games, he’s got no fear. He’s not afraid of the moment."
Looking at Knecht’s overall stats after three games, the rookie is averaging 7.7 points on 50.0% shooting from the field, including 41.7% from 3-point range.
Also read: Dalton Knecht Stats Tonight: Lakers first-round pick continues to impress vs Kings (Oct. 26)