Former Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht hasn’t been off to the best start through his first two Summer League games with the Los Angeles Lakers this month.
Knecht still packs a load of talent into his game, but the numbers have been alarmingly low compared to his past shooting numbers. There is room to get back on the right track with the summer only just beginning, though.
In those two games, Knecht is knocking down just 25% of his shots on 5-of-20 shooting. He’s got 14 combined points in those games, but what’s been particularly alarming is that Knecht has yet to hit a three-pointer in nine attempts.
In the Lakers’ first game against the Warriors, Knecht recorded 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting and 0-3 three-point range. He also tallied four rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block, and one turnover.
The next game went worse from a scoring perspective. On Sunday against the Heat, Knecht scored just four points on 2-of-7 shooting with three misses from the perimeter. Knecht had three rebounds, two assists, and two steals, but also had four turnovers in the game.
Five made shots, five turnovers, and no three-pointers in two games? That’s concerning, but it’s not time to hit the panic button yet.
Some Lakers fans on social media have commented on Knecht’s struggles, with SM Highlights on X questioning if it’s potentially a confidence issue.
“I’m officially worried about Dalton Knecht I’m not even gonna lie to yall,” one X user wrote.
“I know it’s only been a couple games, but this is not what I was expecting from Dalton Knecht at all this summer,” another user wrote.
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Others, though, have come to the defense of the second-year guard out of Tennessee. It is only two games in the Summer League, after all.
“Lakers fans giving up on Dalton Knecht is funny as hell,” one user wrote.
The talent is there for Dalton Knecht
(Via) @realapp_ pic.twitter.com/b8ZSxBrNW4— DiEHARDnLA (@DiEHARDnLA) July 6, 2025
Knecht and the Lakers have one more game in the California Class (July 8 vs San Antonio) before moving to the full-league NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas. From there, the Lakers have four games on tap before any sort of “postseason” play.
In 78 games last season as a rookie, Knecht averaged 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game.
We all know Knecht can shoot the cover off the ball, but he isn’t in his groove early in the summer, for whatever reason. But whether it’s for regular-season production or a trade consideration at some point before or during the season, the Lakers will want to see the former 17th overall pick improve his numbers.
When it’s going right, this is what it looks like for the Tennessee product:
One Response
I don’t think Dalton K. has a confidence problem. He needs someone to tell him what to do and insist that he does it. He has got to turn up the speed, intensity and urgency. He has to go get the ball; got to develop an urgency. Get down court in a hurry, and don’t just stand in the
corner hoping he will get a pass: he won’t! Got to play like his pants are on fire. The other guys in the summer league are playing quicker, stronger, and like they want to be there. Dalton needs a big spark and if it doesn’t come, he’ll be toast. They won’t even be able to trade him.