While Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Volunteers are off to a 3-0 start, that doesn't mean that plenty of fans aren't also focused on former players who are now balling out in the NBA. The list 100 percent includes former fan favorite Dalton Knecht, who is now suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The first-round pick is off to a strong start and that was once again the case in Wednesday night's close win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Knecht was on fire, going 5-for-5 from 3-point land, scoring a career-high 19 points.
It was a brilliant night for the rookie and he had the fans inside of the arena loving every minute of his performance. The same can be said for LeBron James. Arguably the best player ever, James didn't waste any time in saying Knecht made the difference for LA vs. Memphis. He also shouted out Tennessee, which was incredible:
"We leaned on Dalton Knecht; that’s what we did… He looked like he was back at Tennessee."
— Vol Report (@AllVolReport) November 14, 2024
- LeBron James pic.twitter.com/yifFJ0KaZO
LeBron James loved what he saw out of Dalton Knecht against the Grizzlies
"We leaned on Dalton Knecht, that's what we did," James said. "AD (Anthony Davis) got in foul trouble and our first-round pick hit a hot streak. It looked like he was back at Tennessee, so we leaned on him and I just tried to sprinkle in a couple plays here and there."
Talk about making a statement. It's one thing for Knecht to play so well like this, but it surely has to be a major confidence boost to see/hear LeBron give him such a glowing review. In this case, it was well deserved, as Knecht stepped up big time for his team.
He was only in Knoxville for one season, but goodness, Knecht made a huge difference for the Vols. He was the SEC Player of the Year and a First-Team All-American thanks to his sensational 2023-24 campaign. Now, he's showing the rest of the league that he can be a stud with the ball in his hands. Props to the former Vol for what he's getting done at the next level.