“It’s crazy”: Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht clears the air about Luka Doncic’s presence on court amid his team transition dilemma

Los Angeles Lakers rookieDalton Knecht has been in a team transition dilemma but he has finally made his way back to the purple and gold. Following his return, Knecht, who has also been watching the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade drama, shared his candid thoughts on the Slovenian basketball star’s presence on the court stating that it has been crazy.

The Lakers looked sharp with Luka Doncic in the mix, moving the ball with more precision and fluidity. His ability to control the tempo and set up teammates made a clear impact, allowing both LeBron James and Austin Reaves to thrive offensively. Doncic has been in his A-game with fluid yet surprising moves adding to the intensity of his games. In his Lakers debut on February 10 against the Utah Jazz, Doncic added 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists in his 24 minutes of play.
Defensively, Los Angeles held its ground, keeping Utah from finding a rhythm. Rookie Dalton Knecht also had a moment in the spotlight, navigating roster moves leading up to the game. In his candid reflection on Doncic following his first match alongside 5-time NBA All-Star, Knecht said, “It’s crazy.”
“The passes that he was making out there, it’s crazy. They told me the first thing back is no matter what, when he has the ball, be ready to shoot. He’s going to get it to you, no matter what. And seeing a couple of passes to AR (Reaves), Bron, he wasn’t even looking. So it was crazy. I’m excited,” he added as he made his return to the Lakers.
Knecht’s time with the Charlotte Hornets was short-lived. After being included in a trade, he was quickly sent back to the Lakers when Hornets center Mark Williams failed his physical. The unexpected turn of events kept Knecht in Los Angeles, giving the rookie another shot to prove himself.
Doncic has recently shared his thoughts on Knecht. “It’s obviously different. I didn’t expect it, other people probably didn’t expect it. For him, it’s tough. You get traded, and you come back. At the end of the day, this is our team, this is the team we have. We can do everything,” the 25-year-old stated.
For Knecht, the whole scenario is just like a move. “It felt like a movie,” Knecht said after the Lakers game against the Jazz in Salt Lake City where he scored 10 points in 17 minutes of play.
Also Read: Luka Doncic breaks silence on Dallas Mavericks fans’ uproar over his trade to Los Angeles Lakers: “I really appreciate it”
“After that game, I came back the next day and went to get some shots up in the gym. Twenty free throws in—I usually shoot 25—Rob [Pelinka] called me up there and told me the news. It was hard. I got drafted here, so L.A. means a lot. Hearing that I was traded, then heading to Charlotte and meeting everyone there, then flying to Detroit for what was supposed to be my debut, only to fly right back to L.A. after Rob called again and said, ‘You’re coming back,’” he told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin in his candid admission.
Knecht now has another chance to prove his stance in the Lakers which will lead up to his future in the team.