john leuzzi, usa today network
·4 min read
Dalton Knecht can exhale.
With the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, the Tennessee guard is off to the NBA after falling quite a bit on the draft board.
He is the fourth player to be taken in the first-round of the NBA draft in the Rick Barnes Era.
REQUIRED READING: How much will 2024 NBA draft picks be paid? Rookie salary, contract details for first round picks
The Northern Colorado transfer dominated in his lone season for the Vols, becoming one of college basketball's most efficient players and scorers. As noted by his Tennessee profile page, Knecht became one of just four players to average more than 20 points per game in a full Tennessee career. At 21.7 points per game, he trails only Bernard King (25.8), Ernie Grunfeld (22.3) and Allan Houston (21.9).
Knecht, who was named the 2023-24 SEC Player of the Year, led the Vols to a No. 2 seed and an Elite Eight appearance this year in the NCAA tournament, the furthest Tennessee has gone under Barnes. He now heads out to Los Angeles to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis and coached by first-time coach JJ Redick.
Considering Knecht's production this season and original mock projection — USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitthad Knecht projected to go No. 11 overall to the Chicago Bulls — the Lakers' selection of Knecht received quite the reaction on social media:
REQUIRED READING: Lakers' Rob Pelinka 'would've never imagined' Dalton Knecht available at No. 17 in NBA draft
Dalton Knecht to the Lakers in 2024 NBA Draft: Basketball world reacts
Here's a snippet of reactions on social media of the Lakers taking Knecht with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft:
The Lakers are selecting Dalton Knecht at No. 17 in the NBA Draft. pic.twitter.com/jwcv7CwSaS
— Rocky Top Now (@rockytopnow) June 27, 2024
Dalton Knecht is going to LA 🌴
The Lakers pick up the Erving Award winner at No. 17 overall 👀 pic.twitter.com/GgMqRxAnts
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) June 27, 2024
BREAKING: The Lakers are selecting Dalton Knecht, per @ShamsCharania
See Also2024 NBA Draft tracker, results, news: Lakers getting a steal, Zach Edey filling a need lead Round 1 takeaways2024 NBA drafts: Projections for second round picks on ThursdayConsensus 2024 NBA Mock Draft: Zaccharie Risacher goes No. 1 to the Hawks, UConn teammates go in top 102024 NBA Draft tracker, results, news: Lakers getting a steal, Zach Edey filling a need lead Round 1 takeawaysWHAT A STEAL 🔥
(🎥 @Digits3App )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 27, 2024
Knecht is going to be a really good Laker. What a gift for J.J. Redick.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) June 27, 2024
OFFICIAL: Welcome to the Purple & Gold family Dalton Knecht! pic.twitter.com/IppO0fMMIh
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 27, 2024
Dalton Knecht reps #Vols with his suit, gives a s/o to @Vol_Baseball pic.twitter.com/Lf2dW6DUjw
— Kayla Anderson ✨ (@KaylaAndersonTV) June 27, 2024
The Dalton Knecht slide is a bit fascinating.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) June 27, 2024
Dalton Knecht watching a bunch of dudes that he cooked during the season get drafted before him pic.twitter.com/CSVh8IRxz5
— @TorresOnTennessee (@TorresontheVols) June 27, 2024
Dalton Knecht hit 40% from three and named best SF in the nation 🎯
Lakers got one 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LVtNf9ywHe
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 27, 2024
WELCOME TO THE LAKERS DALTON KNECHT 💜💛pic.twitter.com/nBdC3ZiTnD
— NBALakersReport (@NBALakersReport) June 27, 2024
WELCOME TO LOS ANGELES DALTON KNECHT pic.twitter.com/4DRDJEgzmy
— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) June 27, 2024
From JUCO to SEC Player of the Year to the Lakers!
What a journey for Dalton Knecht 👏 @Vol_Hoops pic.twitter.com/UGEiHArjYh
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) June 27, 2024
15 months ago, Dalton Knecht was at Northern Colorado.
Tonight, he was drafted 17th overall by the Lakers after leading Tennessee to the Elite Eight.
America! https://t.co/tcnl7JevH0
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 27, 2024
BREAKING: the Lakers draft Dalton Knecht with the 17th pick 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xnZ1Dobeos
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) June 27, 2024
Dalton Knecht gonna make 16 teams who passed on him regret it…
— Jimmy Dykes (@CoachJimmyDykes) June 27, 2024
I don't get this. I know he's 23. But Dalton Knecht had a top-10 grade for the last two months. I can't believe the Lakers get the SEC's leading scorer and Player of the Year at 17. That kid can play.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) June 27, 2024
All these teams are going to SERIOUSLY regret not taking Dalton Knecht.
Pure malpractice. And now they made him mad!
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) June 27, 2024
Dalton Knecht on ESPN, on his game: "Hard worker. I'm going to be in the gym every single day. That's what I do."
Knecht in college:
Freshman (UNCO): 8.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 36.1% 3's, 24.1 mpg
Soph (UNCO): 20.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 38.1% 3's, 35.3 mpg
Junior (TENN): 21.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 39.7%…— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) June 27, 2024
Lakers got an absolute sniper in Dalton Knecht. He was cooking on #MainlyJumpers in college. Real bucket.
— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) June 27, 2024
"I think Dalton Knecht is going to be absolutely PERFECT for the Lakers."
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 27, 2024
Dalton Knecht didn’t get selected in the lottery..
We’re gonna look back at that in years and f*cking laugh our asses off
— Barstool Rocky Top (#1 BSB) (@BarstoolTenn) June 27, 2024
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Dalton Knecht to Lakers: Reactions after Tennessee G finally off the board
