All-Defensive First Team? Dyson Daniels looks to close out the 2024-25 NBA season on a high note

After the Atlanta Hawks traded DeAndre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanović at the deadline, Dyson Daniels' role has become more important than ever.

Dyson Daniels has been a revelation for the Atlanta Hawks this season.

The rising Aussie became a Hawk just seven months ago, after being traded by the New Orleans Pelicans, who had originally selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Previously unheralded and largely known as a defensive specialist, Daniels has emerged to become a two-way menace after putting on the Hawks uniform. He currently averages 13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists across 50 games this season - all of which have been starts.

When Daniels arrived in Atlanta, franchise superstar Trae Young was firmly entrenched as the starting point guard, and several wings were jostling for a starting berth at the two or three spot - including DeAndre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanović and recent draftee Zaccharie Risacher. Hunter and Bogdanović were established scorers averaging north of 15 points per game, while Risacher carried much hype as a first overall draft selection. Daniels had his work cut out for him to earn a starting position, but an early season injury to Bogdanović left the Aussie with one less obstacle in his way.

Moreover, Hawks coach Quin Snyder signalled an intention to bring Hunter off the bench, meaning Daniels was elevated to the starting two guard position. Risacher was always going to earn playing time as a number one pick, but the 6’8 Frenchman has more of a forward’s body, and didn’t end up competing with Daniels for back court minutes. As the season kicked off, Daniels averaged double-digit points for the first time in his career, but there were still plenty of mouths to feed in the Hawks offence. Young continued in his role as a ball dominant point guard, while forward Jalen Johnson took his game to a new level, averaging a touch under 20 points. Hunter also made strides of his own, becoming a 20 point per game scorer and entering contention for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

In the space of about a week however, Daniels’ importance to the Hawks offence escalated rapidly. Johnson was wiped out in late January with a long-term shoulder injury, before Atlanta made a series of moves at the trade deadline. Hunter and Bogdanović were sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Clippers respectively, while Atlanta gained Terance Mann and Caris LeVert - two talented but less heralded guards. All of a sudden, Daniels has now become the second option on the Hawks, after franchise cornerstone Trae Young.

With the revolving door of personnel around him, it’s unsurprising that Daniels has taken his offensive game to a new level in February. The 21 year old is averaging 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists in this month, while conceding just 1.9 turnovers per game. He has also continued to make a defensive impact in the box score, averaging 2.4 steals and 1.1 blocks throughout seven games in February. In this period, Daniels has maintained a 52.9% clip from the field, and small sample aside, these numbers reflect his offensive growth since joining the Hawks.

The Bendigo native was particularly impressive in a 132-130 win over Detroit, where he recorded a well-rounded stat line of 19 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Daniels’ offensive versatility was on show in this contest as he made a series of cutting layups, two of his trademark floaters and even a couple of three-pointers.

As a point guard prospect, Daniels’ jump shot has always been under the microscope, and in particular his three ball. He has increased his three-point volume to 3.4 attempts per game this season, and is making them at a career high clip of 33.3%. For Daniels to truly become a reliable shooter, he will have to continue refining his form, and we are yet to see a significant uptick in his free throw percentage. Daniels is shooting just 62% at the charity stripe this season - albeit on a low sample size of 1.9 attempts per game - and free throw shooting is considered to be an important surrogate marker of three point shooting potential.

Daniels also excelled as a passer in that aforementioned win over Detroit, showing chemistry with much of the Hawks’ core group of young players - including Young, Risacher and Onyeka Okongwu. He is equally adept at finding open perimeter shooters or cutters in close proximity to the hoop. Daniels will likely never be a prolific assist merchant while he plays on the same team as Young, but he has an opportunity to develop in to a high level secondary playmaker.

Unsurprisingly however, it was Daniels’ defence that grabbed headlines in the win. The Aussie finished with an impressive total of three blocks and four steals, including one clutch steal on Pistons star Cade Cunningham, which iced the game in the final minute. Cunningham was held to 8/23 shooting in this contest, and while the Hawks defence showed up as a unit, Daniels’ contributions certainly kept a lid on Cunningham’s impact.

Daniels has been a dominant defender throughout the whole season, and his steals average of 3.0 per game ranks first in the NBA. Going deeper, Daniels also averages 6.1 deflections per game, highlighting his reputation as a hustle player. The lanky guard is ahead of the league by some distance in both categories, as no other player currently averages north of 1.9 steals or 4.1 deflections.

Daniels’ play once again came to the forefront in a 149-148 overtime loss to New York, on the eve of the All Star break. He finished with 23 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals - one of his best stat lines of the season, and against high level opposition. Daniels was a pillar of efficiency in this contest, making two of three from beyond the arc and ten of fifteen from the field. The athletic guard threw down three dunks against the Knicks - two of which came off the back of steals, exemplifying the old saying of turning defence into offence. New York could do little to stop him in the paint, with Daniels deploying a series of effective layups and floaters. The Knicks ultimately won, thanks to herculean efforts from Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Precious Achiuwa, but Daniels had a major say in keeping the Hawks alive.

As the second option on the Hawks, Daniels now has the offensive role to match his defensive reputation. Jalen Johnson is not expected to return this season, leaving a significant void in the Hawks’ offence, in addition to the recent departures of Bogdanović and Hunter. But considering his output on the defensive end, Daniels is a serious contender to earn NBA All-Defensive team honours. Many would argue he is deserving of an All-Defensive First Team berth; a feat only achieved by one other Australian - Ben Simmons (in 2020 and 2021). If Daniels had enjoyed this elevated role for the whole season, he may have even been a serious candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

Atlanta currently sits eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 26-29 record, meaning a play-in berth is likely. If Daniels and the Hawks can make a playoff run this season, it would be the perfect end to a stellar season. Atlanta fans should be ecstatic that the franchise has found a suitable back court partner for Trae Young, with hopes of regular playoff appearances in the future.