Lakers Rookie Posts Instagram Photos With Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul

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The Los Angeles Lakers made two selections in the 2024 NBA draft. Taking Tennessee standout Dalton Knecht with the 17th overall pick, the Lakers then selected Bronny James out of USC with the 55th overall pick.
Both Knecht and James played in the NBA Summer League with varying levels of success. Leading the Summer League Lakers in scoring, Knecht averaged 21.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in three games. James started slow, but finished his summer on a high note to improve his averages to 8.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in four appearances.
In an Instagram post on Friday, Knecht shared photos from a recent workout with Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook and San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul.
Some of Knecht's college teammates, Summer League teammates, and other NBA rookies reacted to his post.
Via Jonas Aidoo: “My dawg ❤️”
Via Jordan Gainey: “Big timeeeee”
Via Tristan Da Silva: “Oh my”
Via J.P. Estrella: "‼️”

Westbrook and Paul are two of the greatest point guards in NBA history, and while they play a different position than the 6-foot-5 Knecht, both have knowledge they can pass to the young forward.
Westbrook is entering his 17th NBA season and first with the Nuggets, while Paul is entering his 20th NBA season and first with the Spurs. The two Hall of Fame point guards are close friends who often train together in the NBA offseason.
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Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.