Dalton Knecht’s Summer League turnaround was almost cut short by a scary leg injury. With under two minutes left in the Los Angeles Lakers’ Vegas opener against the Dallas Mavericks, Knecht drove hard to the basket, missed the layup, and came down awkwardly.
He grabbed at his leg and stayed on the floor. Eventually, he found his way off the court, and stayed there as he was not able to return to action.
Dalton Knecht dodges significant injury scare
It looked worse than it was. Summer League coach Lindsay Sterling confirmed afterward that Knecht was simply dealing with calf cramps and that it was nothing too serious. But in that moment, you could not help but feel the weight of it, because Knecht had finally started to look like that guy.
Dalton Knecht exited tonight’s game late with a calf cramp, per Lakers summer league coach Lindsey Harding.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) July 11, 2025
Knecht’s first two Summer League games did not just miss expectations, they missed everything. Just like most of his shots, they clanged off the rim, the glass, and maybe even the side of the backboard.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2024 first-round pick came into the summer with high hopes, and a chance to prove everyone wrong. But his jumper? Sadly it went missing on arrival.
He opened Summer League shooting just 3-for-13, then followed that with a 2-for-7 night. From deep, he was 0-for-9 across both games. The kind of cold spell that makes you double-check if the rims are regulation height. In the Lakers' third game, the tide finally turned.
Knecht bounces back after rough start
Knecht came out looking like a much different player after the first two games. He looked confident and seemed to have found his rhythm.
He dropped 25 points, knocked down four triples, grabbed eight boards, and shot 50% from the field. For the first time all summer, fans were finally able to see the version of Knecht that earned him the 17th overall pick, and looked like he belonged.
The Lakers first summer game in Las Vegas against the Mavs was supposed to be the continuation of that momentum. With this year's number one pick, Cooper Flagg, making his debut, all eyes were locked on the matchup.
Fans wanted to see how Flagg would fare against the young guys in L.A., which include Bronny James and his defensive abilities, and Knecht. Throughout the game, Knecht was holding his own.
He scored 15 points, added four rebounds and two assists, and shot 6-of-16 from the field. It was not perfect, but another clear step in the right direction. Then came the injury scare.
Thankfully, the postgame update came back positive. There should be no long-term injury, as it was just cramping. The hope now is simple. That would be him getting right back on the court and picking up where he left off. If a rough start did not define Knecht, neither should one awkward landing.