Dalton Knecht to Wear No. 4 Lakers Jersey After 2024 1st-Round NBA Draft Pick
June 28, 2024
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht will have a new number as he joins the professional ranks.
The former Tennessee star, selected with the 17th overall pick in Wednesday's draft, will wear No. 4 in purple and gold next season, one digit higher than the No. 3 he wore in college.
The Lakers also revealed a new nickname, calling him "Knecht Four," as a play on the classic game. Whether the nickname will stick is to be determined, but Los Angeles is hoping Knecht's collegiate success will translate to the next level.
Knecht has had a unique journey to the NBA, beginning his collegiate career at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado before transferring to Northern Colorado. After success in the Big Sky Conference, Knecht transferred to Tennessee, where he quickly became one of the top college basketball players in his final season of eligibility.
Last season, he averaged 21.7 points per game for the Vols, making 30-point performance a regular occurrence. He had seven games where he went for 30 or more, including a 40-point outing against Kentucky. Knecht led Tennessee to its second Elite Eight showing in program history, where the Vols fell to top-seeded Purdue.
Coming into the draft, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman viewed Knecht as the No. 13 overall prospect, and it's fair to say the Lakers got a steal by selecting him with the 17th pick.
Knecht joins Bronny James, son of NBA legend LeBron James, as the Lakers' rookies heading into the season.
Los Angeles is coming off a disappointing first-round exit against the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, and the team is hoping adding a talented rookie in Knecht will help them improve under new head coach JJ Redick.
