“It felt like a movie.” This is how Dalton Knecht described his whirlwind of a few days which saw him going from a Lakers player to planning how he would thrive with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller on the wing at the Hornets to going back to LA. This did feel like a plot twist straight out of Inception, where just as he settled into a new reality, he was pulled right back to where it all began. On his return, Knecht did want to just “go play basketball,” but it was easier said than done.

Before the game against Jazz on February 10, the same opponents against whom he dropped a career-high 37 points a few months back, Knecht personally requested the HC to not play him.  Coach JJ Redick acknowledged the difficult time he was dealing with saying, “He has, obviously, been through a whirlwind of emotion as a rookie over the last few days. We believe in the strength of the group and having him around today. … He is, obviously, processing everything that has happened.” The Lakers attempted to trade Knecht in the hopes of acquiring Hornets big man Mark Williams. However, the deal was called off after Williams reportedly failed his physical with the Lakers. Coming back to the team that wanted to trade him would’ve taken its toll and so it showed.

But throughout this whole ordeal, Knecht displayed a maturity well beyond his rookie years as he tried to settle into the team once again. In the Lakers’ recent win against crosstown rivals the Clippers Knecht once again showed utmost professionalism. How? You might ask. Well, before this high-stakes affair head coach JJ Redick had told the rookie guard that he won’t be in the team’s rotation. This might have come as a shock to any player and given Knecht’s predicament it might have been hard to take. However, it did not stop the rookie from staying ready if an opportunity did arise. Sure enough, his services were called upon soon.

The young guard clocked in 18 minutes of action scoring 8 points along with a rebound and an assist helping his team to a 106-102 win. While he may not have set the court on fire, his readiness and attitude to step up didn’t escape Redick.

After the game, while giving a post-game speech to the team, JJ Redick couldn’t help but compliment the young hooper’s professionalism. “I told Dalton before the game, that he probably wasn’t gonna be in the rotation tonight, but to stay ready. That’s a professional basketball player right there. That was big time, Dalton. That was big time.” The Lakers HC stated. Knecht’s professional behavior in the face of fluctuating minutes on the court is commendable indeed.

Since his return to the Lakers, Knecht has played a total of 74 minutes in six games, scoring 20 points in the process. These numbers are far from what he would’ve envisioned at the Hornets or even two months ago at the Lakers, but he is looking to make the most of the opportunity.

Knecht returned to on-court action against the Jazz only just two days after opting to sit out against them. The rookie revealed that each of his teammates hugged him and asked him how he was doing when he returned to action. He ended the game scoring 10 points (3-of-7 shooting) and one steal in 17 minutes in his return.

Speaking after the Lakers’ 131-119 loss to the Jazz, he shed light on how he was feeling.

“It was a crazy time. It felt like a movie. It was hard. I got drafted here, so L.A. means a lot. So, hearing that and then I go to Charlotte in the morning with one of my guys and get introduced and start meeting all those people and then fly out to Detroit to what was called my ‘debut game,’ to then, now I’m flying back to L.A. Rob (Pelinka) called me and said, ‘You’re coming back,’ ” he said.

Playing alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic is likely to benefit Knecht in the long run. With him now part of the Purple and Gold for the foreseeable future, he might just be spurred on to show the Lakers that they were wrong to consider moving him out of the franchise and also demonstrate to the Hornets what they missed out on.

So far, in 55 games he has averaged 8.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. But with more minutes likely in the coming days, he expect to see a jump in these numbers and don’t be surprised if he puts up a massive performance somewhere down the road.

Meanwhile, a lot of credit for Knecht’s reintegration into the team has to go to JJ Reddick.

Lakers HC has been incredibly supportive of his players since taking over and has also been an impressive coach. A great testament to this is how good the Lakers are playing at the moment they have won five straight games. Moreover, LA is on the correct trajectory to seal a playoff spot. They are currently 4th seed in the Western Conference with a 37-21 record. With this stellar form, people have been urging the NBA to make Redick ‘Coach of the Year’.

“He should be the front-runner to win Coach of the Year.”: Says Kendrick Perkins about the Lakers HC amid LA’s stellar form

The LA Lakers have finally found a leader. After several hires and fires, JJ Redick is what the Lakers hoped for, and maybe even more. The Lakers won yet another game against the Clippers on Friday improving their record, but there’s more to this than their season record. It’s about how they’ve been playing. It’s about the team’s culture. Redick has helped this team find its identity.

ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins shares the thought as well. While on ‘SportsCenter’ Perkins expressed his thoughts on LA’s rookie coach. “There’s a lot to love and look I ain’t going to lie I was the one. I was waiting to see what JJ Redick was going to do this year as a head coach. And this has been it has been a wonderful thing to witness right now in my opinion he should be the front-runner to win Coach of the Year.” Perkins stated. Well, whether he’s ‘Coach of the Year’ or not, is debatable. However, there’s no denying the impact Redick has had on his team.

The Lakers are currently the best defensive team in the league. Yes, the league! Who could’ve imagined that, after they parted ways with two of their best defenders? Not many. Redick is to be hugely credited for this and even with Reaves and Hachimura injured he’s displayed his team can survive without them. At the moment, a few people might not agree with Perkins, but that could soon change if the Lakers continue to perform at this level.