Dalton Knecht was an unbelievable college scorer at the University of Tennessee, averaging 21.7 points per game in his senior year. He was widely regarded as a top 10 pick entering the 2024 draft. It was therefore a shock on draft night when he slid all the way to the Lakers at no. 17.
How did a player with great athleticism, who showed that he could score from every level of the court, fall so far? Knecht threw down some monstrous dunks throughout his last year in college and hit 39.7 percent of his 3s. He was the definition of a walking bucket.
Despite dominating at the college level, 14 teams passed on Knecht. Here's why he slid.
MORE: Dalton Knecht full NBA scouting report
Dalton Knecht NBA Draft slide, explained
Perceived lack of upside
At the age of 23, Knecht was one of the oldest prospects in his draft class. While other one-and-done players were putting up production immediately, it took Knecht until his fourth year of eligibility before really dominating at the college level.
Critics wondered how much of Knecht's success was simply due to being more physically developed than his peers. He was a Junior College player for two seasons before transferring to Northern Colorado. In his third year, he still averaged just 8.9 points per game.
Knecht stepped up his game after transferring to Tennessee, averaging 21.7 points per game as a fifth-year senior. That late-bloomer path may have scared some teams away.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony mentioned on the draft broadcast that general managers he had spoken with were turned off by that age rather than any injury concerns. Knecht's physical tests were good, as were his workouts and interviews. But the draft executives that Givony spoke to couldn't get past Knecht being 23 years old.
MORE: Live results and analysis for every pick in 2024 NBA Draft
Defensive concerns
Scouts knew that Knecht could score in the NBA. Could he defend?
That was the big question mark for him. He's a good athlete that should move better than he does. He was very stiff as a defender at Tennessee, lacking lateral quickness and getting stuck on screens.
It wasn't all bad for Knecht, though. His 6-6 height gave scouts hope that he could improve enough to where he wouldn't be a liability.
Can Knecht do more than score?
The NBA is trending towards wings who are skilled in multiple areas. Scouts wondered if Knecht could playmake for his teammates. That was another question mark for him at Tennessee, where he averaged only 1.8 assists per game.
He was an improved passer by the end of his college career who could make basic reads, but he wasn't at the level where he could run Tennessee's offense like some of the bigger guards in the league.
MORE: Final big board of top 60 players overall, ranked with player comparisons
Knecht's slide may have ended up working out for the best. The Lakers are a great fit for him. They need his shooting and scoring, and they have the defensive infrastructure in Anthony Davis who can cover for him. His movement shooting should also be fully utilized given how terrific incoming coach JJ Redick was in that role.
Dalton Knecht stats
| Stat | Average |
| Points | 21.7 |
| Rebounds | 4.9 |
| Assists | 1.8 |
| Blocks | 0.6 |
| Steals | 0.7 |
| Field goal % | 45.8 |
| 3-point % | 39.7 |
| Free throw % | 77.2 |
Dalton Knecht measurements
Knecht has good positional size. He's somewhat of a tweener but will likely be an NBA wing.
- Height: 6-5.25 (without shoes)
- Weight: 212.2 pounds
- Wingspan: 6-9
