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Dalton Knecht shoots a three-pointer during the NBA All-Star Rising Stars Game at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday night. (Jeff Haynes / NBAE via Getty Images)
Dalton Knecht has had a whirlwind rookie season. He showed out in front of his idol, Kevin Durant, electrified a home crowd with 37 points and was traded by the Lakers and then sent back.
Friday, he made a live appearance on Greek television and secured a spot in his first All-Star Game.
With his team winning the Rising Stars Game, Knecht will play Sunday against a squad that includes his superstar Lakers teammate LeBron James, Durant and Stephen Curry.
“Going against all the All Stars, you know, it’s gonna be fun,” Knecht said. “I watched a lot of it growing up as a kid. Now I’m a part of it.”
Read more: NBA All-Star weekend: What time is the game? What’s new?
As Knecht got his first taste of All-Star Weekend, the sting from being dealt (and then returned) was starting to dissolve. He played for the first time since the botched trade Wednesday in Utah before representing the Lakers in San Francisco.
“Going back to the gym and shooting, you know, clears out my head. Just getting shots up,” Knecht told The Times.
He looked at ease Friday playing alongside most valuable player Stephon Castle, who finished with 12 points and three rebounds in the championship game.
In the first of two games in which the first team to 40 won, Knecht scored seven points, opening the action at Chase Center with the first basket of the weekend — a three.
In the final against a team made up of G-League representatives, Knecht scored five, the points coming late as his team pulled away, setting up the opportunity to talk trash with James.
“I usually don’t start it. I usually don’t start talking. I usually try to finish it,” Knecht said. “So, you know, we’ll see.”
Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht celebrates after making a three-pointer during the NBA All-Star Rising Stars Game on Friday. (AAron Ontiveroz / Getty Images)
He got the full All-Star experience Friday, complete with a news conference where he answered questions about wanting to watch a fictional dunk…
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Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2025-02-15 05:35:00
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