Dalton Knecht stormed into the Rising Stars game and made sure everyone knew his name. I mean, everybody knew the yet-again Lakers rookie, but he just had to make sure he got the point across. DK drilled clutch shots, threw down a vicious dunk, and played like a man on a mission. And fans couldn’t stop talking about it—Knecht isn’t just here to fit in. He’s here to take over.

After all the chaos, Knecht admitted the mental side of basketball is just as tough as the physical. But D’Angelo Russell gave him some simple but solid advice: “Right after a game, just move on. Don’t care about how you did, just move on because you’ve got the next game coming towards you. So at the end of the day, no matter how high or how low that game was, you’ve got to move on and be ready to play the next one and get better.“

For a rookie caught in trade drama, that’s exactly the mindset he needs. And judging by his Rising Stars Game performance, he took those words to heart.

Dalton suited up for Team C in the Rising Stars Challenge and helped his squad pull off back-to-back wins, setting up a showdown against Team Shaq in the NBA All-Star Game. That squad? Oh, just LeBron James and Stephen Curry. In the semis against Team T, he made an immediate impact. Knocking down an early three, dishing out back-to-back assists, and finishing strong inside. When Team C built a double-digit lead, he was locked in. Even when the other team made a late push, Knecht and his squad held on for a 40-36 win. He finished with seven points, four rebounds, and four assists.

But the real highlight? That dunk! Midway through the semifinal, Knecht exploded to the rim and threw down a vicious one-handed slam. The crowd went wild. The Lakers’ official Instagram wasted no time posting the clip, and fans instantly started speculating.

Was this more than just a highlight? Some are convinced it was his way of letting out all the frustration from the past week—a statement dunk after the trade drama.

Fans React to Dalton Knecht’s Electrifying Performance

The NBA world had plenty to say about Knecht’s dunk and the wild week he just survived. One fan joked, “He definitely imagined Pelinka as the rim,” taking a shot at Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, who was behind the trade mess. And honestly? Not a bad theory. After getting sent to the Hornets and then yanked back due to a failed physical, Knecht admitted, “It felt like a movie… a crazy time.“

Another fan was just relieved to have him back: “I’m so happy we got Dalton back.” Hard to argue with that. Since returning, he’s been making an impact, including a solid game against the Jazz where he dropped 10 points in 17 minutes. Right now, he’s averaging 9.4 points and 3 rebounds, all in 20 mins of game time proving he’s more than just a trade asset.

But some fans want him on the court even more. One person put it bluntly: “Wish Redick can give this dude more minutes instead of making him sit in a corner all game.” His playing time has been inconsistent, but his Rising Stars performance proved that when he gets minutes, he delivers. With only 20 minutes of average game time, He has averaged 9.4 points a game. Remember the 29th Jan game against the 76ers? Dude scored 24 points in just 23 minutes! (What were you honestly thinking Pelinka…?)

And then there’s this take: “That trade created a monster.” There’s no doubt getting tossed around like that could light a fire under any player. For Knecht, it might be exactly what he needed. His stats just keep going upward, just like Bitcoin in 2013 and 17.

From trade chaos to All-Star weekend heroics, Dalton Knecht has turned a frustrating situation into fuel for his game. His Rising Stars performance not only silenced doubts but also reignited excitement about his potential with the Lakers. Whether he’s getting more minutes or a bigger role, Knecht is making sure everyone knows he belongs.