It’s been a rough start to the Summer League for Los Angeles Lakers former first-round pick Dalton Knecht.
The Lakers moved to 1-1 in the California Classic on Sunday with a 103-83 victory over the Miami Heat. But Knecht put up a second consecutive dud, raising some concerns about his future.
Knecht went 2-of-7 from the field, scoring just four points. He also had four turnovers. It comes after his debut, where he hit just three of 13 shots and was minus-13 during a 89-83 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
“It took a while for me to get going. I didn’t get going at all,” Knecht said after the opener. “I just have to come out ready to play better tomorrow and shake off the rust. My teammates were great, they came out competing, picking up full court, rebounding and crashing the glass, so I’m proud of my team.”
There’s still plenty of time for Knecht to turn things around, but his early struggles have raised some concerns.
“I know it’s only been a couple games, but this is not what I was expecting from Dalton Knecht at all this summer,” Daniel Starkand of Lakers Nation wrote on X.
Dalton Knecht’s Performances Dubbed ‘Red Flag’
Knecht was a first-round pick of the Lakers in 2024 and averaged 19.2 minutes per game as a rookie. He put up 9.1 points per game and hit 37.6% of his 3-pointers. He’s also 24 years old, which is old for a second-year player by NBA standards.
“Can’t overreact to positive indicators during Summer Leagues, but red flags are to be taken seriously. Dalton Knecht, red flag start to this summer league as a second-year 24-year-old,” a fan said.
The Cali Classic serves as a warm-up for Summer League, which kicks off on July 10. The Lakers face No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks in their opener in Las Vegas later this month.
“Defense was slightly better in spots for Knecht today, but wow two very underwhelming performances in the California Classic,” another added. “There will be a lot of eyes on that first game in Vegas against Dallas.”
Last season, Knecht was briefly traded in a deal involving Mark Williams — a move that was ultimately voided after Williams failed his physical. Some feel his rough outings may stem from a lack of confidence.
“This has to be a confidence issue,” one fan theorized. “Dalton Knecht shouldn’t even be in the Summer League, he is much better than this.”
Bronny James Shines in Summer League Debut With Lakers
While Knecht struggled, Bronny James made his highly anticipated debut. James sat out the opener but impressed in his minutes against the Heat.
James played just 11 minutes but tallied 10 points, including an early steal and dunk that ignited the crowd.
James appeared in 27 games last season, starting once. He averaged 2.3 points per game on 31.3% shooting, 28.1% from three-point range. James also spent 18 games in the G League, where he averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals.
With that experience, the highly-hyped 20-year-old is feeling more comfortable.
“Last year it was a crazy environment for me to step in and produce right off the rip, like being nervous too,” Bronny said, per The Los Angeles Times. “So, I feel like this year, I’ll be able to go out and play freely and know what I’m gonna go out and do for me and my teammates. So, yeah, I’m just really excited to be able to play nervous-free.”
The Lakers will wrap up their California Classic slate against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
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