LeBron was already excited about Lakers’ first-round pick months ago

LeBron James has not yet officially commented on the Lakers’ selection of Tennessee G Dalton Knecht in the first round of the NBA Draft, but his recent comments suggest he will be happy to have the SEC Player of the Year added to the roster.

Speaking to reporters during March Madness, LeBron named Purdue C Zach Edey and Knecht as two players he enjoyed watching. He noted that he watched Purdue vs. Tennessee in the Elite Eight because of those stars and now LeBron will call one of them a teammate.

Considering how well Knecht fits into the roster, it’s easy to understand LeBron’s potential excitement.

“They’re going to watch Purdue because of Zach Edey because he’s a great player,” LeBron said. “We watched Purdue/Tennessee because of Zach Edey and Knecht.”

He talked about how stars energize the crowd, and neither player disappointed in Purdue’s eventual victory. Knecht scored 37 points, Edey 40 with 16 rebounds, and the opponents put on a show for the ages.

LeBron is right that great players attract attention. Knecht is a great offensive player and should make the Lakers better. He won’t be the star of the show, but his shooting and cutting skills will shine next to a passer like LeBron and a big man like Anthony Davis.

It’s safe to say that LeBron and new head coach JJ Redick are fans of this selection, and now Knecht will be able to show what a star he is on a much bigger stage.

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