The LA Lakers’ constant mistakes on Friday night’s game cost them a chance to secure their consecutive In-Season Tournament trophy. Whether it was Max Christie’s misinterpretation of head coach JJ Redick‘s signal, Austin Reaves‘ inaccurate pass to Dalton Knecht that turned the tide, or the 17 turnovers the Lakers committed, leading to 20 points for the Thunder, each error contributed to their elimination from the tournament. Despite the tough loss, LeBron James has made peace with the mistakes of Dalton Knecht.

In the post-game locker room interview, LeBron admitted that none of the Lakers players played up to their usual standards, except for Dalton. After all, the young forward added a team-high 20 points to the Purple and Gold’s scoreboard. Not only that, but the 4-time champion also confessed that he is ready to overlook Dalton’s mistake.

“He’s gonna continue to make his mistakes, which is okay,” LeBron said, reminding the 23-year-old that “he’s a rookie.” LeBron wants to cut him some slack since it’s his first time experiencing the ups and downs of the league. He then showered Dalton with praise, highlighting the traits that have made him an integral part of the squad so early in the season. “Offensively, he’s gonna do what he needs to do. He shoots the ball extremely well. He can attack, sneaky athletic, but, you know, it’s just good to have him on the floor no matter, what position he’s playing. The peace for us,” the 20-time All-Star added.

OKC took the lead from the opening quarter, but by the time the teams entered the final period, they were almost neck-and-neck. However, it didn’t take long for the Thunder to snatch a 101-93 victory, exploiting the Lakers’ defensive mistakes. Despite the loss, there’s no denying that Dalton has been a rock-solid presence for the LA side.

Dalton Knecht shines through Lakers’ loss

In less than two months, Dalton Knecht has already forged a strong connection with the team. Though his draft was overshadowed by the hype surrounding fellow rookie Bronny James, the former Tennessee player has still made a name for himself with his impressive performances. And Friday was one of those nights when he knew he had to step up for the team.

In the 33 minutes on the hardwood, Dalton flaunted his shooting skills to the Crypto.com arena crowd by knocking down 6-of-13 3-pointers. Moreover, he hit 7 of 17 shots from the field. By the end of the night, he had bagged 20 points, along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. However, the Lakers still struggled to stand strong against the Thunder.

Despite his rookie status, Dalton has showcased in the 19 games so far that he could be the “sustainable Lakers excellence” that Rob Pelinka has long been searching for. In the short time he’s been with the Lakers, he has already refined his skills, and with continued development, he could become the franchise’s pillar.