Dyson Daniels swept the NBA from 2024-25. It was a great breakout campaign he felt he could replicate and even rise in his promising future.
When the Atlanta Hawks traded with Dyson Daniels in a surprising deal, most headlines were how DeJohn Te Malley broke up with him. It was a fair rating, but basketball fans didn’t expect how good Daniels would be for the Hawks.
Dyson quickly became one of the NBA’s best defenders due to his cat-like speed and long limbs.
Daniels surprised the rest of the league as they didn’t see that high level of defense in their first two years with the Pelicans in New Orleans. He has gained buzz both as defensive players of the year and the most improved players after becoming the league’s most relentless defender.
The Hawks are always a fun team to watch because of Trae Young and his great performances on offense. He is the driving force behind Atlanta’s success in the regular season.
Despite his success as an offensive security guard, Trae needs support from the backcourt, especially on the defensive side. Young was always supporting Daniels in his bid for the defensive player of the year who showed their chemistry.
That’s where Dyson Daniels appears. Most people saw him as a raw prospect who will enter the 2024-25 season, but he surprised everyone by becoming a legitimate defensive player of the year.
Although he did not win the DPOY award, he still won the Most Improved Player Award against the closest contender, Ivica Zubac.
Australian security guards have affirmed that he will continue to improve even continuing to entertain the idea of being the first player to win the award twice.
“I really believe I’ll win this award again. There’s a lot more left to me. Next year, it’s about taking that next step and setting a new goal,” Daniels said of the MIP Awards.
“I want to be an All-Star in this league. I want to be a Championship player.”
The NBA needs to be on guard as the Atlanta Hawks have a roster filled with budding stars. Young and Daniels are now well established. The Hawks also have a rising star of Jalen Johnson.
He is a “incredible” player, but he couldn’t show it because of his injuries that took him along for the majority of the 2024-25 season.
Another player worthy of his flower is No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher in the 2024 NBA Draft. He was pleasantly surprised as his production during his rookie season proves that those who doubt him are wrong.
The future is bright in Atlanta, and the rest of the league needs to be aware of what they can do in the long run. Daniels will become an important piece as he continues to grow as a defender and an all-around player.