The past two weeks have been a whirlwind for Los Angeles Lakers sharpshooter Dalton Knecht. Initially traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Mark Williams, Knecht unexpectedly found himself back in Los Angeles after Williams failed his physical examination. This unexpected turn of events has paved the way for a remarkable All-Star Weekend for Knecht.
Following his impressive victory in the Rising Stars challenge on Friday, Knecht now has the unique opportunity to share the court with LeBron James in the All-Star Game on Sunday. This whirlwind experience is a testament to Knecht’s exceptional talent and the unpredictable nature of the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers, Dalton Knecht Looked To Unlikely Character For Advice
Recently, Dalton Knecht revealed that he has been receiving valuable mentorship from former Laker and current Brooklyn Nets guard D’Angelo Russell. Knecht shared that Russell has provided him with insightful guidance on navigating the challenges and triumphs of an NBA career.
“D-Lo, he gave me the best advice. Right after a game, just move on. Don’t care about how you did,” said Knecht, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN on Instagram. “Just move on because you got the next game coming towards you. No matter how high or how low that game was, you got to move on and be ready to play the next one and get better.”
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Russell’s NBA career has been punctuated by a series of high-profile trades. Notably, he was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Brooklyn Nets not once, but twice: initially in 2017 and more recently in 2025.
Knecht now faces the unique challenge of representing the organization that recently sought to trade him. While this situation may present some inherent awkwardness, there are undeniable silver linings.
By remaining with the Lakers, Knecht avoids the developmental challenges that may have arisen within the Charlotte Hornets organization. Moreover, he retains the invaluable opportunity to learn from and compete alongside basketball luminaries such as LeBron James and Luka Dončić.
The acquisition of Dončić is likely to impact Knecht’s playing time, as the Lakers now possess a deeper and more versatile perimeter rotation. However, the team’s current roster composition may necessitate increased opportunities for Knecht to contribute on the interior.
Regardless of his playing time, Knecht will have the unique opportunity to share the court with LeBron James as part of the All-Star Game tournament. The festivities are scheduled to commence at 8:00 PM ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco.