Lakers Fans Are Saying the Same Thing About Bronny James and Dalton Knecht
Dalton Knecht and Bronny James were selected by the Los Angeles Lakers last year, and are two of the most discussed players from the 2024 NBA Draft. Knecht, the sharpshooter out of Tennessee, went 17th overall, while James had to wait until the second round to hear his name called, going 55th overall.
Advertisement
Both entered this year's Summer League eager to prove themselves after struggling for consistent minutes in their rookie seasons. This week, though, the two young guards have delivered contrasting performances under the bright lights of Summer League play.
That was on display Sunday against the Miami Heat.
Los Angeles Lakers first round draft pick Dalton Knecht (4) and second round draft pick Bronny James (9)Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Knecht, expected to showcase his scoring upside, struggled in the Lakers' opening loss to the Golden State Warriors, finishing with just 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting, including 0-of-6 from three, in 30 minutes of action. James, on the other hand, sat out the first game but returned with an immediate spark against the Miami Heat on Sunday.
Advertisement
He made his presence felt right away, stealing the ball in the opening seconds before racing down the court for a dunk to score the Lakers' first points. By halftime, James had racked up 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal on 3-of-6 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from deep in just 11 minutes.
Fans wasted no time drawing comparisons between the two second-year teammates:
'Bronny leaping knecht already,' one fan wrote.
'How is Bronny James already better than knecht 😭' another fan added.
'Knecht has played double the minutes as Bronny and yet still [expletive] on the court,' a third fan posted.
Advertisement
'dude dalton knecht is horrible … bronny might literally be a better player than him right now man,' another fan remarked.
'Bronny > Dalton Knecht,' one fan simply said.
'Bronny looks great while Knecht looks terrible lol,' another fan mentioned.
It's only early July, but the hot takes show just how closely Lakers fans are watching these two prospects.
Related: LeBron James Reacts to Bronny James' Dunk in Lakers Summer League Game
Related: Calls Mount for Dalton Knecht Trade After Lakers' Loss to Warriors
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ranking The 5 Best Destinations For Damian Lillard After Getting Waived By The Bucks
Ranking The 5 Best Destinations For Damian Lillard After Getting Waived By The Bucks originally appeared on Fadeaway World. In a stunning move that reverberated across the NBA landscape, the Milwaukee Bucks have officially waived Damian Lillard to free up roster space for veteran big man Myles Turner. This seismic shift not only punctuates a dramatic end to the Bucks' pairing with Lillard but also signals a pivotal moment: Milwaukee's championship window appears to have firmly closed. Advertisement With the franchise choosing to pivot, and star Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly displeased with the direction, the team's commitment to title contention has come into serious question. Now, all eyes shift to Damian Lillard, who faces a season-long recovery from a devastating Achilles injury. Although he's expected to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign, this turn of events presents an opportunity: Lillard can plot a comeback in his final prime years, joining a new team poised to maximize his elite scoring prowess and leadership off the bench. Here, we identify the Top 5 destinations where Lillard's influence could be game-changing, both for him and whichever roster he joins. 1. Boston Celtics Despite missing Jayson Tatum for the entirety of next season with his own Achilles injury, Boston remains in a prime position to add a veteran superstar who can both fill the playmaking void and mentor their rising core. Advertisement The Celtics might be willing to bring Lillard on board, even with Anfernee Simons on board and Jrue Holiday now with Portland. In fact, the timing aligns perfectly. Lillard's vocal leadership and elite shot-making would immediately stabilize Boston's backcourt and bolster their East title push. Pairing Lillard with Derrick White gives head coach Joe Mazzulla lineup flexibility to stagger elite creators and shooters, allowing Lillard to shift into secondary creator/playoff closer roles come postseason. Moreover, the veteran presence could accelerate growth in young wings like Pritchard and Anfernee Simons. While the team's rebuild signals a 'retool' rather than a teardown, acquiring Lillard could be the bold swing to keep Boston annually in championship conversations. 2. Houston Rockets Houston continues their offseason with an embarrassment of two-way riches when looking at their depth chart. The Rockets have already made the deal for Kevin Durant; pivoting to Lillard still makes strategic sense when trying to build a superteam. Advertisement They possess the requisite assets who can be versatile in lineups, and Lillard could serve as the stabilizing floor general amid a core that includes recently added Kevin Durant, Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson. Though Lillard will miss the 2025-26 season rehabbing his Achilles, Houston could build with an eye toward 2026-27, in case they don't win a title next season. Even if they do, having Dame bolstering their backcourt is nothing but a positive. Overall, by the time Lillard returns, the Rockets may have matured enough to add another strong piece, creating a foundation for a long-term contender centered around Lillard's elite two-way shooting and Houston's emerging two-way talent. 3. Los Angeles Lakers In L.A., the Lakers remain in constant pursuit of championship-aligned veterans. Despite their current roster shuffle, Los Angeles has the outlets, either via trade or free agency, to assemble a backcourt ready to maximize Lillard's scoring. Advertisement With LeBron James aging around Luka Doncic, Lillard's ability to carry the offensive burden mid-game would be invaluable, and, with his return planned for 2026, he would slot into a veteran trio perfectly formed for one last title run. The Lakers have been linked to high-risk/high-reward moves all offseason, and Lillard would be the headline acquisition under that philosophy. Integrating Lillard into a Lakers system known for its isolation sets and high-basketball-IQ veterans would not only elevate their offensive ceiling but also show The King that they want to win right now. Perhaps that means James could extend his time in the NBA another year or two. 4. Los Angeles Clippers The Clippers have aggressively reshaped their roster in recent seasons, now stacked with star talent like Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Norman Powell, and Ivica Zubac in recent years. Adding Lillard, even with the rehab delay, could tip them over into superteam status: multiple elite ball-handlers, a lockdown defense-first staff, and one of the West's most lethal offensive arsenals. Advertisement Though depth and cap space will be tight, LA's front office has shown a propensity to push financial boundaries. A trade for Lillard would position them in the rare echelon where three ball-dominant All-Stars coexist, heading into a post-2025-26 season primed for another deep postseason run. The risk is high because that lineup won't be very dominant defensively. However, in the era of offense, perhaps Ty Lue can figure something out. If this lineup stays healthy, the Clippers could match the NBA's best juggernauts. 5. Miami Heat Miami remains a perennial heartbeat of championship culture, and the Heat were Lillard's primary trade preference when Portland first explored deals. With Erik Spoelstra's trusted developmental track record and a roster fortified around Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, the Heat would offer Lillard both a winning system and the leadership-driven environment he values. Advertisement Joining Miami allows Lillard to integrate gradually post-rehab, easing into competitive roles within a club accustomed to managing veteran legs. Their culture-first identity and playoff resilience align perfectly with Lillard's killer mentality. Additionally, Miami's recent offseason flexibility suggests they could retool around Dame while maintaining their high standards, forming a backcourt pair with Herro ready to make immediate waves after his comeback year. Related: Bucks Waive Damian Lillard, Dump $113 Million Contract To Sign Myles Turner On $107 Million Deal This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Damian Lillard Appears To Approve Report That He's "Elated" To Leave The Bucks
Damian Lillard Appears To Approve Report That He's "Elated" To Leave The Bucks originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Damian Lillard's tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks came to an abrupt end on Tuesday. The Bucks decided to waive Lillard in order to sign Myles Turner, and the decision left a bad taste in the mouths of some. Advertisement Lillard, however, was reportedly not feeling too bad about the Bucks' decision. The Athletic reported that the 34-year-old was elated that the Bucks waived him, and he appeared to co-sign that by sharing a story on Instagram. Here is the clip that Lillard shared, which explained why this is a great outcome for him. View the original article to see embedded media. Lillard does have complete control of his future now and can go wherever he wants. It's a big reason why he is so elated. "League sources say Lillard is elated with this decision, as it puts him in the kind of basketball-first position that few All-Star-level players, if any, have experienced in league history. In short, he'll be able to join the contending team of his choosing, either sometime soon or perhaps next summer, without the financial aspect of the decision playing a significant part." Advertisement Lillard, who tore his Achilles in the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers, was set to make $113 million over the next two seasons. The Bucks stretched those two years to five, which means they'll pay him $22.5 million a year through the 2029-30 season. That, in turn, means Lillard doesn't have to concern himself too much with the financial aspect and can just sign with whichever team he wants. Many teams have reportedly reached out to Lillard, with the Golden State Warriors being one of them. It will be interesting to see where he decides to go. While Lillard at his best would be a fantastic acquisition for any team, the question is how good he will be as he comes off this Achilles injury? It's one of the worst injuries for an athlete, and he has suffered it at the age of 34. Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game for the Bucks in 2024-25. The chances of him playing at an All-Star level after returning aren't great, but Kevin Durant did show that it isn't impossible. If he can play anywhere near his best, he would be an incredible steal. Advertisement Getting back to the Bucks' decision, NBA insider Chris Haynes revealed that Lillard wasn't informed beforehand that he'd be getting waived. "I spoke with Damian Lillard briefly, and, you know, he was surprised. He was surprised. The Bucks did recently go out there to Portland to meet with Dame, but they did not tell Dame that this was coming. He had no clue about that as well. I was told that Dame found out about the situation just like everybody else found out." Haynes did add that there were some things that could have been done and handled differently. The two sides don't appear to have parted on good terms, and it's a shame that the partnership has ended in this manner. Lillard was supposed to elevate the Bucks when he arrived via trade from the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023. He and Giannis Antetokounmpo were being hailed as arguably the best duo in the NBA, but they didn't prove to be the unstoppable force on the court that many had envisioned they would be. Advertisement Injuries to Lillard and Antetokounmpo also meant they never even won a playoff series during their two seasons as teammates. This has gone down as quite a disappointing era for the player and franchise, and it will be interesting to see if their fortunes turn after parting ways. Related: Damian Lillard's Agent Says His Client Has An 'Incredible Opportunity' After Bucks' Betrayal This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Warriors Are After Damian Lillard To Form Splash Bros 2.0 With Stephen Curry
Warriors Are After Damian Lillard To Form Splash Bros 2.0 With Stephen Curry originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Things have gotten interesting for the Golden State Warriors this summer after former Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard suddenly hit the free-agent market. The Warriors, who are still fresh off the Jimmy Butler trade in February, have become the latest franchise to show interest in the star as teams across the league vie for his services. Advertisement 'Of the many teams that reached out to Damian Lillard, the Warriors were one of those teams," said Marc Spears on NBA Today. "This is a guy who grew up at games at Oracle Arena, sneaking in the media room, getting sodas. Grew up a Warriors fan… I know it's very interesting to Bay Area people.' Lillard, 34, began his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent 11 years leading them as a regular playoff team. Lillard grew up in Oakland, California, the site of the famous 'Oracle Arena' and the place where the Stephen Curry dynasty began. Back in Lillard's day, the Warriors were a relatively irrelevant franchise, but by the time he made it into the league in 2012, the seeds were already in place for their rise to power. For years, Steph and the Warriors blocked Lillard's path to the Finals, and the Trail Blazers failed to get him the pieces he needed to finally take them down. During his lone trip to the NBA Finals in 2019, it was Steph and the Warriors who sent him home in defeat and ended his last best chance to make a run. Now, Lillard and Curry could join forces in a move that would shock the basketball world. In his prime, Lillard was one of the best three-point shooters in the league, second only to Steph himself. With career averages of 25.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game on 43.9% shooting, Lillard is a generational talent who demands respect. Advertisement Even after tearing his Achilles tendon in April, Lillard remains a hot target across the league, and it's believed he may be able to return at some point next season to help a team make a playoff run. Considering he'd come at the veteran's minimum, even the Warriors can afford to bring him in, and they really have nothing to lose by offering him a spot. Alongside Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, Lillard could thrive with the Warriors and finish out his career on his terms. Not only would he get open looks and floor spacing from Steph, he'd enjoy extra coverage on defense from his team in the form of Butler, Draymond, and whoever else the Warriors can add this offseason. With Lillard and Curry's shooting, the Warriors would be unmatched offensively, comparable only to the days of Curry and Thompson during the peak of the Warriors' run. Assuming they fill out the roster with a proper big man, Lillard's arrival could change everything for the Warriors and put them back in a position they haven't been in years. In the end, only time will tell how Lillard's future plays out, but the decision is entirely his. At this point, he has total control over his next contract, and if he wants to sign with the Warriors, that option will be available. With close ties to the city (a lot of family there) and the potential to win a championship, there are plenty of reasons why Lillard might be favorable to joining the Warriors. Related: Ranking The 5 Best Destinations For Damian Lillard After Getting Waived By The Bucks This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
