LeBron James explains why Dalton Knecht was his favorite college basketball player — besides son Bronny — last season

The Lakers' 2024 NBA Draft class has already drawn plenty of attention, most of which has been on the team's second-round pick Bronny James.

The interest was expected, as Bronny is the son of Lakers star LeBron James. The two will become the first father-son duo ever to play in the NBA, so that was always going to capture fan attention.

But as excited as LeBron is to play with his son, he is also excited to share the floor with Los Angeles' first-round pick, Dalton Knecht.

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The elder James was asked about the prospect of playing with Knecht while at a Team USA training event. He offered high praise of the Lakers rookie and former Tennessee star.

"Throughout the course of the college season, Dalton, besides Bronny, was my favorite player in college basketball," James said .

James' affinity for Knecht shouldn't be too much of a surprise. The NBA veteran said during March Madness that he was excited to watch the Purdue vs. Tennessee game because of high-end talents like Zach Edey and Knecht.

Knecht averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists for the Volunteers during a 2023-24 season that saw Tennessee make an Elite Eight run. He also shot 39.7 percent from 3-point range, and that skill stood out to James when he watched Knecht play.

"I just liked his ability to shoot the ball, his athleticism, his height, his demeanor that he played with," James said. "I've always kinda felt that his game would translate to the NBA."

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Many NBA Draft analysts agreed. Knecht was almost universally mocked as a top-10 pick, and he ranked No. 4 overall on Sporting News' final big board.

Even so, Knecht slipped out of the top 10 and past the bottom of the lottery to No. 17 overall. Few thought he would be available at that point, James included.

"I did not think he would fall to 17 at all, so I didn't think we'd have an opportunity to get him," James said. "I’m glad he did."

Now, Knecht's goal will be to provide the Lakers with more shooting and floor spacing as a role player.

And while Bronny James will command plenty of attention during NBA Summer League and early in the 2024-25 season, Knecht seems more likely to emerge as a rookie contributor. His path to playing time may depend only on how quickly he is able to gel with LeBron James.