Watching players get drafted one after the other might have made it a long night for Dalton Knecht. But after much await and speculation, the LA Lakers have finally landed their No.17 overall pick at the 2024 NBA draft. Tennessee Volunteers star Dalton Knecht has come to be the Lakers’ choice, who believe the 23-year-old ‘can make a real impact’. But was this already destined to happen from the 23-year-old’s childhood days?

In an interview with The Players’ Tribune, Knecht faced the question of his first jersey as a kid. “Kobe [Bryant] jersey. That was…Christmas special, all white with purple accents,” he replied. Notably, after the iconic purple and gold jersey for 35 years that was motivated by regal aspirations, the Lakers introduced the white and purple uniform at the start of the 2002-03 season.

As per the official NBA website, the idea for the white uniform was birthed before the Lakers made a move to the STAPLES center. The uniform which was termed the Association Edition denoted affinity for conscious change — a vision brought to life after the first three-peat in LA.

Dalton’s first jersey, being a Kobe Bryant Christmas edition, may have been a coincidence back then. But now, after being drafted by the Lakers, it may very well be considered an omen for this instance. However, the Tennessee star’s Kobe connection is not limited to his first jersey. The 23-year-old, for his teammates, is “White Mamba,” at least for Volunteers’ JP Estrella, as per Knox News. Further, a popular thing among the Tennessee basketball community is the Dalton Knecht White Mamba shirt.

It is worth mentioning Knecht’s selection is a surprise to some, for most expected him to be a lottery pick. Meanwhile, Lakers’ GM Rob Pelinka believes he is a player who can contribute immensely to the team. “He has a lot of upside left … at every step he’s improved, and we expect that improvement at the next level as well,” Pelinka posted on X.

A closer look at Dalton Knecht’s college basketball career

The 23-year-old started his college basketball career with the Northern Colorado Bears in his junior year. Notably, he was not eligible to play during his sophomore season because of his low grades. As per the reports, both his family and coaches preferred him sitting out the entire season to focus on academics.

In his first season at Northern Colorado, Dalton’s performance was subpar with 8.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. However, his game drastically improved the very next season, when he averaged 20.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Following his improved performance, he transferred to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

As revealed by Dalton to SI, the primary reason behind the move was the desire to further his defense under head coach Rick Barnes, who is notable for his expertise in the area. And the move turned out to be a success as he claimed SEC Player of the Year, SEC Newcomer of the Year, and some other awards in his lone season with Tennessee, Now, it’s to be seen if he can replicate a similar success in the big league.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.