WATCH: LeBron James heaps praises towards LA Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht after winning against Memphis Grizzlies

Despite a small setback, the Los Angeles Lakers started the 2024–25 NBA season with a perfect home record. To move to 6-0 at crypto.com Arena this season, the Lakers overcame a five-point deficit going into the fourth quarter to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 128-123 on Wednesday.

Once again, LeBron James was attraction of the game. The 39-year-old ageless wonder became the oldest player in NBA history to earn three consecutive triple-doubles after scoring 35 points, handing out 14 assists, and hauling down 12 rebounds in 37 minutes of action.James, the four-time NBA MVP, didn't intend to steal the show in Los Angeles, but no one could fault him for enjoying the moment.

"How did you summon the opportunity and power to finish off this game?" the Lakers superstar was asked following his team's latest victory,per Vol Report. "We leaned on Dalton Knecht, that's what we did," James responded to the reporter. "Anthony Davis got in foul trouble, and our first-round pick had a hot streak. It looked like he was back at Tennessee, so we leaned on him." 

Watch here the video:

"We leaned on Dalton Knecht; that’s what we did… He looked like he was back at Tennessee."

- LeBron James pic.twitter.com/yifFJ0KaZO

— Vol Report (@AllVolReport) November 14, 2024

Throughout the game, Davis battled foul trouble, accumulating five by the fourth quarter as the Lakers lost an early 15-point lead. Knecht filled in for the Los Angeles starting center, who was off his game for the evening. Scoring a season-high 19 points and shooting 7 of 8 from the field (87.5 percent), including a perfect 5-of-5 from the three-point line, Dalton Knecht had one of his greatest NBA outings to date. Following the first-year pro's outstanding performance, Lakers head coach JJ Redick even went so far as to call the 23-year-old the "catalyst" behind the team's seventh victory of the year.

Dalton Knecht is rising star of Los Angeles Lakers in recent times

Knecht, who was selected 17th overall in June, has emerged as one of the Lakers' most promising rookies in recent years. Last season, the Fargo, North Dakota native was among the top three-point shooters in college basketball, and with Redick, a former NBA three-point specialist, as his head coach, it was hoped he would ultimately achieve similar success.

Knecht's performance on Wednesday significantly improved his averages, despite the fact that it was just his third occasion scoring ten or more points this season. He now shoots 44.6 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from outside the arc, averaging 7.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.