In Pictures: Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht and third-year guard Max Christie in attendance for 49ers vs Rams thriller
LA Lakers prospects Dalton Knecht and Max Christie attended Sunday's San Francisco 49ers vs LA Rams matchup, witnessing a thrilling contest.
After falling behind by as many as 14 points in the second half, LA mounted a furious comeback. It outscored San Francisco 20-3 over the final 19 minutes to secure a 27-24 home victory. Per ESPN, the organization's second-half comeback matched its largest since 2006.
During the showdown, Knecht, the Lakers' No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, and Christie, their third-year shooting guard, were seen in the SoFi Stadium crowd. The LA youngsters were gifted personalized Rams jerseys, with the NFL franchise sharing photos on X/Twitter of them showcasing their new attire.
Christie attended the game alongside his brother Cam Christie, the LA Clippers' No. 46 pick in this year's draft. However, the trio weren't the only NBA players who witnessed the nail-biter in person.
Lakers superstar forward LeBron James was also spotted at the contest alongside several Denver Nuggets players, including Russell Westbrook, Michael Porter Jr. and Peyton Watson.
Thus, the 49ers versus Rams clash marked a big draw across the NBA world.
Amid Rams game sighting, Dalton Knecht has reportedly bulked up for his Lakers rookie season
After being drafted by LA, Dalton Knecht was hailed as one of the 2024 draft's biggest steals. Many called the 6-foot-6 sharpshooting wing a perfect offensive fit for the Lakers' shooting-deprived roster. Nevertheless, some expressed concerns about the 23-year-old prospect's ability to hold up athletically and defensively in the NBA.
However, ahead of his rookie season, Knecht has reportedly been bulking up to enhance his chances of making a two-way impact.
Earlier this month, Spectrum SportsNet's Mike Bresnahan reported on Knecht's offseason fitness regimen. The Lakers insider predicted Knecht to take a considerable step up from his breakout senior college season at Tennessee.
"I did hear that Knecht has been putting on some muscle. So, he’s definitely getting bigger," Bresnahan said on the "Lakeshow" podcast. "I thought he was already pretty good around the rim for a guard, but now he’s gonna be bigger and better than what we saw the last of him several months ago when he was still a college kid."
Over 36 games with the Volunteers, Knecht averaged an SEC-leading 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 3-pointers per game, shooting 45.8% and 39.7% from 3. He took home SEC Player of the Year honors, resulting in many analysts projecting him as a Top 10 NBA draft pick.
While Dalton Knecht ultimately slipped outside the draft lottery, primarily due to age-related concerns, he appears primed to prove his doubters wrong. He's expected to play a key bench role for a competitive LA squad coming off a 4-1 first-round playoff loss to Denver.
In Pictures: Lakers rookies Bronny James, Dalton Knecht hit the weight room ahead of offseason practice