After a historic season, NBA Communications announced that Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Dyson Daniels was voted the league's Most Improved Player. He is the second Hawk to win the award after Alan Henderson during the 1997-98 season. When Daniels arrived from New Orleans in September 2024, he stated during his media day interview that his biggest goal this season was to become an all-NBA defender.
“I’m gonna take the challenge of guarding the best player every night and be that backbone for guys like Trae and be able to switch things 1-4,” said Daniels. “Defend bigger people and defend smaller guards. Just being everywhere on the floor. I’ve got a big goal of making the First-Team All-Defense, so I’m gonna go out there and try to make that happen.”
He exceeded all his expectations by leading the entire league in steals with 3.0 per game, and accumulated the most steals this century (229) before the end of the season. If selected, he will be the youngest member of the All-Defensive First Team, becoming the first Hawk in 27 years to be chosen. His impact on the team has developed a mutualistic relationship with the franchise.
It was the perfect replacement alongside Trae Young after the disappointing Murray-Young backcourt. Atlanta finally has a top-5 defender, and Daniels was allowed to shine offensively after sitting on the Pelicans' bench for two years. He grew offensively, increasing his average from 5.8 to 14.1, and showcased playmaking ability with 4.4 assists per game, culminating in Daniels earning the M.I.P. award.
The NBA on TNT crew interviewed the 22-year-old, who discussed how his experience in New Orleans was the catalyst for his performance this season.
“It was my third year in the league, and my first two being in New Orleans; I felt like I kinda went in there and wasn’t myself,” said Daniels. “ I kinda took a backseat role, so I came here (Atlanta) wanting to put my foot down, you know?”
Why Dyson Winning M.I.P. Is Important For Atlanta
Daniels’ sudden rise has improved the trajectory of the Hawks franchise after four disappointing seasons. Even though they missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, they improved as a roster, and Daniels was a massive part of this. During his exit interview, he showed interest in remaining with the franchise and believes they’re a few pieces away from contending in the Eastern Conference.
“I’m excited for this team. I think we have a really good core group of guys and guys who play well together,” said Daniels. “ I think the more experience we get playing together, we can become a good team.”
The core of Young, Daniels (22), Johnson (23), Risacher (20), and Okongwu (24) are all close in age, with Trae being the oldest at 26. This particular ensemble of talent has the highest ceiling since the Hawks’ roster of 2021. While Daniels led the league in steals, Young led the league in assists with 11.6 per game, showcasing a dynamic two-way backcourt.
Producing these statistics during a losing season foreshadows a promising future for the backcourt once they find their winning formula. The Hawks are due for significant roster changes with new General Manager Onsi Saleh in place, and they’re conducting interviews for their new President of Basketball Operations.
All signs point to a positive trajectory in Atlanta, and Daniels winning the M.I.P. was a major sign of this. He has an immense desire to achieve greatness, and he’s already set new goals for next season.
“ I really believe I could win this award twice becuase i know i have so much more left in me to show in this league and so much more improvement” said Daniels. “For me, It’s just about taking that next step next year and setting new goals. I wanna be an All-Star in this league, you know? I wanna be a championship-level player, So I set the bar high, and it's about going out to execute it now.”
He improved exponentially in his third season, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Daniels become a legitimate two-way star in year four. It’ll be interesting to see how the new management handles Daniels’ contract, as it is set to end in the summer of 2026.
Landry Fields signed Jalen Johnson to a $150 million five-year extension before losing his job in April. If they can sign the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up to a long-term deal, it’ll be a massive win for the franchise.