When a champion speaks, you listen. And when it’s LeBron James? You really pay attention. Last year, while Dalton Knecht was tearing it up in the NCAA for Tennessee, LeBron saw something special. He didn’t just hype him up—he predicted greatness. Of course, the internet did what it does best and called him a liar. But guess what? The King was right.

Fast forward, and Knecht is shining brightly, proving he’s the NBA’s next big thing. Game after game, the Lakers small forward makes the ops dance to his rhythms. And to say he’s surprising and impressing the vets like LeBron James would be an understatement. The 23YO is affirming a bright future with or without the legends. Dalton’s career-high 37-point game vs. Utah Jazz didn’t just bring a 124-118 win to LA; it also brought accolades for Tuesday night’s hero.

Besides complimenting the rook, LeBron thought it was the perfect time to confront the public accusations he fell prey to after his bold Dalton Knecht claims last year. “Everybody on the internet calls me a liar all the time. And that, so what am I now?” Bron threw a jab at his critics. He added: “I’ve said it, I watched him. I watched him in Tennessee a lot. And, I did not think he was going to fall to us. I thought it would be impossible. I have no idea how that happened but very grateful and very happy that he is here. But, I knew exactly what we were getting when he fell 17.”

Poll of the day

Poll 1 of 5

Do you believe LeBron James' prediction about Dalton Knecht proves he's a visionary or just lucky?

He's a visionary

Just lucky

It's too early to tell

LeBron always knows best

Is Stephen A. Smith overreacting to his courtside confrontation with LeBron James?

Yes, he's milking it

No, it's justified

It's all for show

Not sure

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With LeBron James sidelined, can Luka Dončić lead the Lakers to victory against top teams like the Bucks and Nuggets?

Yes, he's got what it takes

No, it's too much pressure

Only if the officiating improves

Not sure

Is Klay Thompson the right leader to guide the Mavericks back to glory?

Absolutely, he's a proven champion

No, they need fresh blood

He needs more support

Too early to tell

Was Jimmy Butler's decision to take the controversial shot justified?

Yes, it's part of the game

No, it was disrespectful

Kerr's call, not Butler's

Doesn't matter, he played great

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In his time with Tennessee, Knecht appeared in 36 games and averaged 21.9 ppg. LeBron James never imagined in his wildest dreams that the Los Angeles Lakers would draft and nurture such a raw talent. But, well, certain things happen in miraculous ways, and Dalton fell 17th in the Lakers’ hands.

And now, Bron’s predicted prodigy is shattering the opponent’s defense with his sharpshooting. On Tuesday, Knecht hit nine three-pointers and tied the rookie record held by Rodrigue Beaubois and Yogi Ferrell. “Dalton gives us the perimeter shooting we’ve been missing, and it’s been a game-changer,” LeBron James commented post-game.

Moreover, given the win streak, the Lakers are on for the last six games. It’s safe to say that the Purple and Gold are back on track and the road to the championship.

LeBron James believes the Lakers are playing in the right way after their road trip difficulties

The Lakers’ five-game road trip was an eye-opener for JJ Redick and his boys. It was a total disaster, to put things with more subtlety. At the end of five games, LeBron James & Co. were down to a horrifying 1-4 record. But once they returned home, things began to fall into place. After Tuesday’s game night against the Jazz, Bron dissected how things have changed for LA.

What does LeBron like about the (winning) stretch? “We won,” He said with satisfaction. “We’ve been playing the right way man. I think we had some adversity that we handled very well on the road trip in New Orleans and San Antonio.” The Lakers stalled the Pelicans and Spurs in a dominating game soon after the road trip. They must have corrected the erroneous spots and come back stronger.

“We’ve cleaned up a lot of things with our transition defense which has been really bad for us early on this season. We cleaned up our turnovers and then offensively, we’ve been very strategic and very on point,” LeBron James explained. Critics and league experts suggest that the Lakers have the worst rotation bench this season. Also, the inability to shake up their roster this year makes the picture clear. However, the obstacles aren’t when players like James, AD, and Dalton Knecht are on the team.

Just 14 games deep into the 2024-25 season, the LA Lakers are marching toward their 18th Larry O’Brien. Well, it’s too early to say if they’ll lift the trophy, but it’s safe to say that LeBron James & Co. are out there to win. Throwing away their losing streak and starting a winning marathon, the Purple and Gold are on a roll to win and win and win.