The GOAT debate is one of the most drawn-out conversations in NBA history. And the protagonists involved are legends of the game with illustrious careers to boot. But it seems fans also use GOAT to address their favorite players these days. Enter the newest entity in the Greatest of All Time debate: Dalton Knecht.
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That’s what one particular Lakers fan thinks. And his pick has gone viral on the internet. Rather than go for LeBron James, Michael Jordan, or Kobe Bryant, this fan held up a sign that said, “Sorry MJ, Dalton’s my GOAT!”
Knecht shared the picture to his Instagram story. To specify it in case there are doubts, he did it as a joke. The rookie hasn’t done nearly enough to be considered a GOAT. But choices of fans are their personal right. And Knecht happens to be a fan favorite in LA.
After being selected 17th overall in the draft, he’s made a name for himself as a reliable bench option for the Lakers. He even joined an elite list of rookies in November, scoring 37 points against the Utah Jazz. He also downed a rookie-record 9 three-pointers in the game.
Of course, the shadow of the failed Mark Williams trade still hangs over Knecht. But his response to the whole situation has been nothing short of professional, which has endeared him even more to the fans.
He never sulked or threw a fit about it, as a lot of fans feel he had the right to. Instead, Knecht got back to his work and continued to show the coaches that he can be a reliable scorer off the bench.
Now, Knecht may be this particular fan’s GOAT, but he’s also been asked about who his favorite player was growing up. Not surprisingly, his answer is one of the most popular ones among young players in the NBA.
Knecht names Phoenix Suns star as his GOAT
In an interview with SLAM Magazine just days after getting drafted, Knecht sat down for a set of rapid-fire questions, where he named Kevin Durant the best NBA player of all time. Knecht clarified a few weeks later that Durant was his childhood idol.
Funnily enough, both Durant and Knecht played under the same college coach, Rick Barnes. He was the head coach of the Texas Longhorns’ basketball program from 1998 to 2015, and worked with KD in the 2006-07 season. Barnes moved to Tennessee in 2015, where he spent the 2023-24 season working with Knecht.
KD has been the pick of many other players. Anthony Edwards revealed last year that Durant was his idol growing up, and looking back at it, it’s not hard to discern why. With his silky smooth handles and shooting form, Durant has a serious case to be a fan-favorite basketball player.
