FROM 'STEAL' TO SELL: HOW DALTON KNECHT LOST REDICK’S TRUST AFTER SUMMER LEAGUE WOES
The Lakers assigned Dalton Knecht to the G League, signalling a likely trade before the deadline. Coach JJ Redick, initially a huge fan, has reportedly grown frustrated with his defence.
Lakers coach JJ Redick was seen alone on the bench before the November 28, 2025, game versus the Mavericks in Los Angeles.
In other news, the Lakers sent Dalton Knecht, their former first-round pick, to the South Bay Lakers, their G League affiliate, this Monday. Word is that Rob Pelinka and the front office are planning to trade Knecht before the February 5 deadline.
The Lakers also assigned guard Adou Thiero to South Bay. This is supposedly Knecht’s first assignment to the G League this year.
Knecht came to Los Angeles with a lot of hype but hasn't quite lived up to it in his first season and a half. He showed flashes of being a good shooter in his first year, making 1.6 threes per game at a 38% clip. But he hasn't really improved since then. This year, he's averaging 6.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game, shooting 36% from beyond the arc in 20 appearances.
The 24-year-old hasn't been great on defense either, which has kept Redick from giving him more minutes.
Redick was initially excited about Knecht.
The Lakers coach was thrilled when they drafted Knecht with the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. It was Redick’s first time being in an NBA war room before his first season coaching the team in 2024-25.
Redick thought the Lakers got a steal in Knecht because of his ability to shoot on the move—a skill that's valued in today's NBA.
According to ESPN, a team source said that the new Lakers coach Redick is a big fan of this pick, since he’s been talking about how important it is to add shooting to the roster. Considering Redick made over 2,000 NBA 3s in his career at a 41% clip, this isn't surprising.
Reportedly, Redick also believed that Knecht, who spent five years in college, was more ready for the NBA than other rookies and could make an instant impact.
A Lakers team source told ESPN, None of us thought he’d be there. It’s crazy. He’s the most ready guy in the draft, ready to play right away.
Summer League Issues
Redick’s opinion of Knecht seemed to shift at the start of the 2025-26 season after watching him struggle in the Summer League. Knecht averaged 6.4 points and 1.9 rebounds, shooting 36% from three in the Las Vegas exhibition games leading up to the new NBA season.
Redick said about Knecht, “It’s the other stuff (besides offense) that he’s got to just do and find that consistency in his defense, on being the low man, or boxing out, or crashing every time, or sprinting back and actually talking in transition.”
He added, When he’s doing those things, he’s an impact player.
Redick mentioned that he had several meetings with Knecht during the offseason, encouraging him to work on certain aspects of his game to be successful in the pros.
Redick noted, “We probably met three times over the summer and met again in September, like it’s clear what he’s supposed to do.”
Those three practices, our video room, and our analytics guys, they tracked every stat in live play. He had an unbelievable three days offensively. I’m very confident that when he’s confident, he’s a high-level offensive player in the NBA.
LUKE LITTLER STAGES IMPROBABLE COMEBACK TO SECURE PREMIER LEAGUE DUBLIN TITLE
Luke Littler staged a miracle 0-5 comeback to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-5 and claim Premier League Night Seven in Dublin.
Luke Littler pulled off an incredible comeback to win Night Seven of the 2026 Premier League Darts in Dublin, edging out Gerwyn Price 6-5 in a gripping final at the 3Arena.
Starting the match down 5-0, Littler managed to turn things around, finishing with a sharp 81 checkout on double 15 to claim his second nightly win of the season. This victory strengthened his position in the hunt for a playoff spot. Price, the world champion, seemed to be heading for a comfortable win after dominating early on. However, a string of missed match darts allowed Littler to complete this remarkable turnaround, much to the delight of the lively Dublin crowd.
Littler and Price both earned their places in the final with strong performances throughout the night. Littler kicked off with a solid 6-3 win over Stephen Bunting in a match where both players averaged over 100. His ability to close out legs made the difference, converting six doubles from 13 attempts to secure his spot in the semi-finals.
There, he faced Michael van Gerwen in one of the season’s standout matches. The high-scoring battle featured big moments from both sides, including a spectacular 170 checkout from Van Gerwen. Littler matched the intensity, hitting his own impressive finishes and eventually held his nerve in a deciding leg to win 6-5 and move into the final.
On the other side, Gerwyn Price was ruthless in his journey to the final. He opened with a commanding 6-0 victory over Josh Rock, who has continued to struggle in this season’s Premier League. Price’s clinical play, averaging over 100 and converting six doubles from 11 tries, set the tone. He carried that momentum into the semi-finals with a dominant 6-1 win against the reigning champion Luke Humphries, averaging 109.04 and maintaining pressure from the first dart.
The final started predictably, with Price in full control. He quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead, capitalising on Littler’s early missed chances. After finally getting on the board with a 52 finish, Littler seemed outmatched at 5-1. But Price missed several opportunities to close out the match, including a crucial miss at double top for a 72 checkout.
Seizing the moment, Littler struck back with a 76 checkout, shifting the momentum. The Dublin crowd got behind him as he rattled off consecutive legs, eventually tying it at 5-5 after Price missed another double. In the deciding leg, Littler sealed the comeback with a precise 81 checkout, combining treble 17 and double 15, leaving everyone in the arena stunned.
Beyond the headline final, Night Seven had other significant developments in the playoff race. Jonny Clayton, the league leader, took his first quarter-final defeat of the season, losing 6-3 to Luke Humphries. This not only ended Clayton’s unbeaten run at this stage but handed him his first pointless night.
Josh Rock’s struggles also continued. After seven weeks, he remains without a win, suffering a heavy defeat to Price and staying at the bottom of the table as his Premier League debut continues to be a tough challenge.
There was a last-minute change when Gian van Veen withdrew due to illness, giving Van Gerwen a walkover into the semi-finals. Still, Van Gerwen couldn’t take advantage of the extra rest, falling to Littler in a nail-biting deciding leg in the semis.
HOW THE KNICKS PLAN TO REPLACE JOSH HART’S HISTORIC ENERGY
Josh Hart is out with knee pain, but Jalen Brunson returns as the Knicks eye a fifth straight win against the Nets.
The Knicks face a tough challenge Friday night as they’ll be without one of their key glue guys. Josh Hart is sidelined with patellofemoral syndrome in his right knee, a hit that comes at a pretty awkward moment. The team’s riding a four-game winning streak and trying to solidify their playoff standing in the Eastern Conference.
With Hart out, Landry Shamet is expected to slide into the starting lineup. Coach Mike Brown might lean more heavily on veteran Jordan Clarkson and rookie Mohamed Diawara to cover those extra minutes on the floor.
There’s a bit of good news to balance this out: Jalen Brunson is back after missing Tuesday’s game due to a sore ankle and neck strain. That gets the Knicks’ offensive engine back in gear, but losing Hart carries a different kind of weight.
Hart’s been central to this group all season, not just scoring, but keeping the lineups cohesive and pushing the tempo. His relentless hustle, grabbing rebounds, leading fast breaks, and doing the gritty work, helps the whole team click. Brown has openly praised how crucial Hart’s energy and connection are.
“He’s been fantastic, giving us that energy, keeping our group connected,” Brown said after their recent win. “Crashing the boards, picking up the pace, attacking in transition – those are the things that make a difference.”
Brown even compared Hart’s impact to what Andre Iguodala brought to championship-winning teams. It’s that veteran savvy and basketball IQ that might not always show up in stats, but often marks the difference between just making it and truly winning.
Hart’s recent game really underscored what he adds when he’s firing on all cylinders. In Tuesday’s 136-110 rout of the Pacers, he exploded for a Knicks career-high 33 points, hitting 12 of 13 shots and draining all five of his threes. On top of that, he grabbed seven rebounds, dished five assists, and swiped two steals in just 26 minutes.
That wasn’t just a hot streak; it was historic. Hart became the first NBA player ever to score at least 30 points, hit five threes, grab five rebounds, and dish out five assists all on 90% shooting or better. He also joined a very exclusive Knicks group with a 30-point night at 90% shooting.
Thanks in large part to him, New York cruised to a 45-25 season mark. OG Anunoby added 26, Karl-Anthony Towns notched a double-double, and the team looked strong overall.
Now the focus shifts to the supporting cast as the Nets come to town. Shamet will bring much-needed shooting to the starting five. Clarkson’s scoring punch is going to be even more important with Hart out, and Diawara should see more extended minutes, especially on defence.
The Nets will be eager to play spoiler, so the Knicks will need everyone diving after loose balls, maintaining the pace, and staying connected. It will definitely take a collective effort to cover for Hart’s absence.
Hart’s knee issue doesn’t seem like it will drag on, but missing him highlights just how pivotal he has become to New York’s success this season. Brunson’s return helps keep the offence on track, but replacing everything Hart offers, especially following a night like that, is no easy feat.
