Lakers’ Dalton Knecht Talks About Facing LeBron James at All-Star Weekend
Dalton vs. LeBron is on the horizon.
LeBron James uses Dalton Knecht’s prediction to mock critics who “call him a liar.”
Recent weeks have been eventful for Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht. Once, Knecht was part of a trade that would send him to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for promising center Mark Williams, but the Lakers canceled the deal after Williams failed his physical. Now, in an ironic twist, Knecht finds himself playing for the Lakers team that nearly traded him away.
However, Knecht is adapting to the situation, pushing past the trade drama. He took the court for the Lakers in their recent loss to the Utah Jazz and later played a significant role in Team C’s victory over the G-League squad during the Rising Stars Game on Friday night.
As a result, Team C will face Shaquille O’Neal’s OGs in the All-Star Game on Sunday — a team that includes Knecht’s Lakers teammate, LeBron James. Always competitive, Knecht is looking forward to the challenge.
“It might be a lot of fun. I get to play against (LeBron), right? So I get to play against one of my teammates and try to make a statement,” Knecht shared, via ClutchPoints’ Jerry Donatien.
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Will Dalton Knecht make an impact for the Lakers down the stretch?
Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) takes a shot against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.
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With Luka Dončić joining the team, the Lakers have high hopes for competing in the postseason. The acquisition of Mark Williams would have been a game-changer, filling the center void left by Davis. But with the trade falling through, the Lakers now look to re-incorporate Dalton Knecht, whose future role is uncertain.
While Knecht is expected to be a key spark off the bench, the Lakers will need to balance offense and defense. This may limit Knecht’s playing time to about 15 minutes a game.