Could Dalton Knecht participate in the dunk contest someday?
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht is starting to play well again after going through a deep freeze in December and for most of January. He has shot 52.9% from the field and 46.7% from 3-point range in his last 10 games, and it looks like he has regained his confidence, even after he was included in the failed trade for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams.
He participated in the NBA Rising Stars challenge on Friday and had a nice showing, as he helped his team win both games and earn the right to face an All-Star squad featuring LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant on Sunday. During his media availability at All-Sar weekend in San Francisco, he said he would like to participate in the dunk contest in the future.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Dave McMenamin (@davemcten)
'I would do it. I think probably the league would want me to do the 3-point contest. Maybe one day I'll do the dunk contest. I think I could do both.'
Knecht competing in both the dunk contest and the 3-point contest would certainly be something. Everyone knows about his marksmanship from the outside, as it was the biggest reason he was projected to be a top-10 pick in last June's draft. But he is an underrated athlete who possesses a solid vertical leap of 39 inches. He is a strong finisher in transition, and he has already thrown down some thunderous dunks this season, including one in the Rising Stars competition.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Could Dalton Knecht participate in the dunk contest someday?
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Highlights of 5-star Georgia QB commit Jared Curtis
Highlights of 5-star Georgia QB commit Jared Curtis Five-star Georgia Bulldogs quarterback commit Jared Curtis is the top ranked player at his position in the class of 2026. Curtis is a foundational piece for coach Kirby Smart and Georgia. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback plays high school football for Nashville Christian School in Nashville, Tennessee. Curtis projects as the quarterback of the future for Georgia. During his 2024 high school season, completed 40 touchdown passes and threw just three interceptions. Curtis completed over 70 percent of his passes for 2,830 yards as a junior. Curtis is a big, mobile quarterback. As a rusher, he added 637 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns on 88 carries. He helped Nashville Christian go 12-1 and win their first state championship since 2015. Curtis and Nashville Christian defeated Columbia Academy 49-21 in the 2024 state championship. In the game, Curtis passed for 158 yards including two touchdowns. He also added 60 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Curtis showcased the value of his mobility and strength in the red zone in the state championship. He does not easily go down at first contact as a rusher, but is also more than capable of connecting with his receivers with deep, accurate passes. Jared Curtis 2024 state championship highlights Curtis is the complete package at quarterback. It may take him a bit of time to adjust to the speed of college football like any other freshman. He has the talent to start right away as a true freshman if things click for him. Curtis had one deflected pass that was lucky to not be intercepted, but did a good job of finding his guys a few times in tight coverage. The Nashville Christian star can extend plays and forces defenses to defend the entire field due to his dual threat ability. Follow UGAWire on Instagram!

NBC Sports
2 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Report: Orlando acquires Desmond Bane from Memphis for Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four firsts
Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman said this offseason it was time to 'turn the page' on the Magic's rebuild and become a win-now team. On Sunday he did just that, agreeing to a trade that is all-in: Memphis is trading guard Desmond Bane to Orlando for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick swap, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. The first reaction to this trade: Bane is a perfect fit for what Orlando needs, but that is a very steep price to pay. Orlando needs shooting more than anything and Bane brings that, knocking down 39.2% of his 3-pointers last season, and for his career is a 41% shooter from beyond the arc. More than just a gunner, Bane was a secondary shot creator in Memphis who averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists a game last season. Put him next to a healthy Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and the Magic offense should make a leap from its 27th-in-the-league ranking a year ago, especially with Banchero and Wagner setting screens for Bane (that will be very difficult to defend). Bane is also a solid defender who will fit in with the Magic's elite unit on that end. Weltman and Orlando surveyed the East, saw that it feels more wide open in the wake of the Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard injuries, and decided now was the time to push their chips into the middle of the table. Orlando could well be a top-four team in the East next season and a playoff threat. What is jaw-dropping about the trade is the four unprotected first-round picks. That's a lot to surrender for a player who has never been an All-Star before, especially in a trade where the Magic had to throw in two quality veterans. In Memphis, it feels like more moves are on the way, the four picks give them flexibility to make future trades to lower payroll, clearing the way for a massive Jaren Jackson Jr. extension this summer. Or, they could explore trades for Jackson and/or Ja Morant and consider a total reset (don't bet on it, but it's something to watch). \While Bane played a key role in the offense when Morant has been out, Caldwell-Pope steps in as a rock-solid starter at the two and Anthony can be a good first guard off the bench for the Grizzlies. However, it's the picks that give them flexibility to make future trades or use those picks to add depth over time.


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Landon Duckworth pays surprise visit to Auburn, sets commitment timeline
Landon Duckworth pays surprise visit to Auburn, sets commitment timeline Duckworth visited Auburn over the weekend to develop relationships with coaches and players. Auburn football received surprising, yet wonderful news last week when Landon Duckworth shared that his focus will be on two schools, Auburn and South Carolina, from now on. Following his announcement, he paid a visit to Auburn over the weekend to spend time with coaches and players. Duckworth, a four-star quarterback from Jackson High School in Jackson, Alabama, told Cole Pinkston of Auburn Live that he wanted to visit Auburn for the weekend after cancelling visits to Florida State and Ole Miss to spend time with coaches and continue developing relationships. 'Oh yeah, it was important most definitely,' Duckworth said of spending time with Auburn's coaches. 'It was a free weekend, and I haven't really been up here a lot since the new coaches have been here. I thought I needed to come back and see the coaching staff and get a better relationship with them.' The only area of concern with Auburn's interest in Duckworth is the signing of Deuce Knight, who just signed with Auburn as a member of the 2025 recruiting class. Duckworth says that Knight's signing will not play a factor in his decision, citing that there will be quarterback competition no matter where he signs. Instead, he is focusing on building a relationship with Knight, who he has encountered several times. 'I knew him while he was in high school and we've talked over Instagram. We trained at Quarterback Country a few times. Now he's here so we've gotten even closer," Duckworth said of Knight. "He hits me up and we hang out every time I come here.' Now that Duckworth is down to two schools, when will he decide on a winner? Duckworth says that he does not have a cemented date, but his commitment could come in July. Duckworth is the No. 3 player from Alabama for the 2026 recruiting cycle, and the No. 6 quarterback of the class according to 247Sports rankings. If Auburn can land Duckworth, it will do wonders for its 2026 class that has slipped in the rankings recently, and will build momentum toward winning the state of Alabama again. Auburn has one top-10 Alabama commitment at this point of the cycle, and a potential commitment from Duckworth could bring a spark. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__