The games do not count yet, but Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht announced to the NBA on Thursday evening that he is ready to make an impact.

In 32 minutes off the bench, Knecht scored 35 points on 10-of-18 shooting with eight of those goals coming from downtown, while adding seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. He scored 20 of the Lakers’ final 22 points as they forced overtime and defeated the Phoenix Suns 128-122 in a preseason game.

Knecht didn’t just make easy, open looks from the corner. He hit two three-pointers off Sun’s 7’3″ center Bol Bol, including the game-tying triple with 5.1 seconds left.

That 3-pointer, which capped a 12-point fourth quarter for Knecht, had Lakers teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis jumping off the bench to celebrate his late-game flair.

You don’t see that kind of reaction very often with NBA All-Stars in the preseason.

Knecht, the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, has scored at least 19 points in his last three preseason tests.

“It was an unbelievable performance,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the game. “…The thing about him is just the mentality. It’s been very clear in pre-season pick-up (games), at training camp and in games so far – he has no fear. He has no fear of it moment.

“That was a show he put on.”

The Lakers have one more preseason test — Friday against the Golden State Warriors — before beginning their regular-season schedule on Tuesday. But Knecht, fresh off a 35-point heater, appears more than ready to become a fixture in Redick’s rotation as a rookie.