The Lakers’ new head coach had arguably his proudest moment yet! JJ Redick made a bold claim about rookie Dalton Knecht before the game against the Phoenix Suns, and the 23-year-old proved him right. Trailing by 8 in the fourth quarter, the Lakers managed to tie the game and went on to win 128-122 in overtime. And it wouldn’t have been possible without Knecht’s clutch performance. Redick shared a pregame conversation with Reggie Miller, who seemed to doubt that Dalton could be counted among elite shooters. The head coach, however, had the perfect answer.

“Reggie [Miller] and I were talking before the game and he was like, ‘It’s high praise to say he’s in the top 1% of shooters …’ Well, nah, he’s in the top 1%. … That was supernatural what he just did,” JJ Redick said as per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

The rookie had a whopping 35 points on the night, shooting 8-13 from three. It continued his brilliant start to life in Purple & Gold. He has been shooting lights out in the pre-season. No wonder Redick was so confident about him pre-game with one of the greatest shooters of all time in Miller.

It seems Redick’s extra focus on the Lakers’ 3pt shooting has been working well. While LeBron James wasn’t present, it was the rookie making waves. He had 20 consecutive points at the end of the fourth quarter and OT. He made two back-to-back 3-pointers, sending the game to overtime. The Lakers gained momentum again with a 126-122 lead. The final shot was by Jaxson Hayes, with a layup extending their lead to six points and securing the victory.

It makes sense for the Lakers’ head coach to call Knecht’s performance supernatural. Considering the consistent display of remarkable matchups, it might be that Knecht could take up the starter’s position this year.

Lakers star James had a similar opinion on Knecht’s performance after the last matchup.

LeBron James praised Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht

The Los Angeles Lakers rookie has been remarkable since his preseason debut, where he scored an impressive 16 points in 25 minutes of play during the matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Although the Lakers lost 124-107, Knecht’s performance stood out. Shooting 7-of-13 from the field, he also grabbed 3 rebounds.

The 23-year-old has already gotten James’s approval. “He’s a pro. He’s ready to go now,” James said as per Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. Averaging 21.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, the SEC Player of the Year transferred to Tennessee for the 2023–24 season. In his first week, Dalton was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Week.

It seems Dalton will also get Miller’s approval now. As one of the best shooters in league history, a nod from Miller will only boost Knecht’s confidence.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger