Rookie Dalton Knecht's brutal performance excites Los Angeles Lakers fans

In a performance that electrified Crypto.com Arena ala Michael Jordan, Los Angeles Lakers' rookie Dalton Knecht tied an NBA record by scoring nine three-pointers in a single game, contributing 37 points to lead his team to a 124-118 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Knecht, picked as the 17th selection in the draft, showcased why the Lakers believed in him, although LeBron James clarified that it wasn't exactly a serendipitous discovery: "They didn't 'find' DK. The other 16 teams messed up. Did nobody see him? J**. It's not that they 'found' him, they just didn't screw up. You don't 'discover' the SEC Player of the Year," said James, who added 26 points and 12 assists.

Knecht's most explosive moment came in the last minutes of the third quarter when he scored 21 points in just 3:29. During this streak, he hit four consecutive three-pointers, three of them assisted by D’Angelo Russell, as the crowd rose from their seats with each basket. He added three free throws after a foul on a three-point attempt and closed the quarter flawlessly from long range with another three-pointer assisted by Russell, giving the team a 22-point lead heading into the final period.

The rookie ended the game with incredible efficiency: 12 for 16 from the field, including 9 of 12 from beyond the arc, along with five rebounds and a steal. His coach, JJ Redick, spared no praise: "I'm not worried at all if Dalton is up to the moment. He's fearless. He's a real weapon for our team, beyond just scoring points. It's something that energizes us."

Knecht's performance puts him in the company of names like Keyonte George, Yogi Ferrell, and Rodrigue Beaubois, who also hit nine threes as rookies. Additionally, he joined an exclusive list of Lakers that includes Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and D’Angelo Russell as the only ones in the team's history to reach that mark. To celebrate, Knecht recreated Michael Jordan's famous "shrug" gesture from the 1992 NBA Finals, an act he explained with a laugh: "Rui [Hachimura] told me I needed a three-point celebration. I didn't know what to do, so I just shrugged".

His teammates, on fire

His teammates also praised his abilities and confidence. Anthony Davis, who contributed 26 points and 14 rebounds in the game, emphasized the importance of encouraging Knecht: "We always tell him to shoot. He's good at other things, but shooting is what he does best. We get mad when he doesn't". Austin Reaves added: "I know he's capable of that. Honestly, I hope he does it many more times this season".

Since entering the starting lineup three games ago due to an ankle injury to Hachimura, Knecht has averaged 26 points with an impressive 63.6% field goal accuracy and 61.5% from three-point range. With this win, the Lakers extended their winning streak to six games and improved their record to 2-0 in the NBA Cup group stage.

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