As a seasoned NBA veteran, LeBron James is primarily focused on winning championships rather than grooming new talent. However, the Los Angeles Lakers’ selection of Dalton Knecht with the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft has reignited interest in LeBron’s past comments about the Tennessee standout.
LeBron James was praising Dalton Knecht months ago!
— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) June 27, 2024
Knecht was a standout player last season, leading the Volunteers on an impressive run in the NCAA Tournament. Now that he’s joining the Lakers, some of LeBron’s earlier remarks about Knecht are being revisited.
“We watched that Purdue-Tennessee game because of Zach Edey and (Dalton) Knecht,” James commented earlier this spring. “Players, depending on who they are, will drive attention when it comes to viewership.”
With Knecht now on the Lakers roster, he certainly has LeBron’s attention as they aim for another championship together in Los Angeles.