{"id":128855,"date":"2025-03-15T23:32:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-16T03:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=128855"},"modified":"2025-03-15T23:32:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-16T03:32:43","slug":"lakers-rookie-dalton-knecht-austin-reaves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/03\/15\/lakers-rookie-dalton-knecht-austin-reaves\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Rookie Has Austin Reaves In His Corner"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s fair to say that year one hasn’t gone the way\u00a0<\/span>Los Angeles Lakers<\/span><\/a>\u00a0rookie\u00a0<\/span>Dalton Knecht<\/span><\/a>\u00a0expected. He came into the league as a shooter in the one percent, according to head coach JJ Redick. Knecht started off firing and excited the Lakers fans for what was once thought of as the 2024 NBA Draft steal. Things began to shift, though, and Knecht started to struggle shooting the three ball. Eventually, the shock trade of the season and the league’s history involved the rookie being traded to the\u00a0<\/span>Charlotte Hornets<\/span><\/a>. The story is well-known now, and Knecht is back in Los Angeles with another chance with the Lakers. However, given this season’s turmoil, you can’t blame Knecht for having mixed emotions. That’s where he says\u00a0<\/span>Austin Reaves<\/span><\/a>\u00a0comes into the picture, who has been in Knecht’s corner with advice and support.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lakers Rookie Has Austin Reaves In His Corner<\/h2>\n

Los Angeles Lakers Rookie Dalton Knecht Has Vital Support After Rescinded Trade Offers Second Opportunity<\/h3>\n

LeBron James<\/span><\/a>\u00a0had flown back home for treatment, and\u00a0<\/span>Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/span><\/a>\u00a0was resting in the second half of a back-to-back against the\u00a0<\/span>Denver Nuggets<\/span><\/a>, so it was up to Reaves and company to try to knock off their vaunted playoff enemies for the second time in two weeks. Unfortunately, the Lakers came up short, but not because of a lack of production from Reaves or Knecht, who stepped up huge in the defeat. With Don\u010di\u0107 out, Knecht slid into the rotation with 37 minutes of playing time. He went for 32 points, shooting 38.5% from three. It was one of his <\/span>biggest<\/span> performances of the season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wherever Knecht’s confidence level is at this point in the season, it likely has a lot to do with the support he’s received from Reaves, especially since the trade fell through. Knecht spoke about Reaves following the Nuggets game, saying that he’s been his main support system, which helped him perform the way he did (<\/span>Twitter link<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been pretty much my main vet, I can go to and talk to all the time and he has my back 100%. He almost had a 40, almost had a triple-double, so having a guy like that to help me and to be super confident in me, means a lot.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

“We were short on guys, and we fought through that.”<\/p>\n

Dalton Knecht talks with @LakersReporter<\/a> and the media after his 32-point performance in the Lakers’ 131-126 loss to the Denver Nuggets. #LakeShow<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FQccZUfOpQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n