The Atlanta Hawks became a juggernaut last season after CJ McCollum entered the starting lineup. They finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 21-9 record in their final 30 games. This success coincided with McCollum entering the starting unit, forming a lethal guard trio with Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
All signs point to Atlanta opening the upcoming season with the same three-guard lineup. The old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," certainly applies, and Daniels looks forward to playing alongside Alexander-Walker and McCollum again in 2026-27.
Dyson Daniels shares why Atlanta's three-guard lineup finds success
At Hawks Media Day, I asked Daniels what makes him, McCollum, and Alexander-Walker mesh well together on the court.
"We all have a little bit different play styles. When you have that, you can really gel together and play off each other ... As a three, we talked all the time about how we can be better, how we can give each other opportunities to succeed," said Daniels.
I asked Dyson Daniels why the three-man lineup of him, CJ McCollum, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker worked so well so quickly last season.
— Mikey Kobrinsky (@MRKHoops) September 28, 2026
Here was his response: pic.twitter.com/qmtCJ2fNp2
Daniels emphasized how much he likes to operate in transition as a playmaker and scorer. He pointed out that Alexander-Walker and McCollum often gave him the rock on fast breaks to playmake for himself or others. In the half court, Daniels' shooting woes hurt the Hawks' offense, but when defenses scramble to get set, his size, strength, and playmaking abilities shine.
The 23-year-old is also a great screener. Atlanta frequently utilized Daniels as a ball screener for Alexander-Walker, McCollum, and Jalen Johnson. His short-roll decision-making shined when he had the ball in the middle, punishing defenders with a floater, hitting a teammate on a cut, or kicking the ball out for an open three.
Daniels noted that McCollum and Alexander-Walker can play both on and off the ball as scorers. This versatility prevented them from eating into each other's usage. They both get buckets in a variety of ways.
Johnson was Atlanta's primary scoring option, but McCollum was its best half-court shot creator last season. When the Hawks needed a bucket against the New York Knicks in the playoffs, they leaned on the veteran scorer to work in the mid-range and hunt mismatches against slow-footed bigs or poor perimeter defenders.
Alexander-Walker's offensive game matches with Quin Snyder's system. The 2025-26 Most Improved Player wants to shoot threes, get to the rim, and knock down easy free throws. His lethal outside shooting, combined with his craftiness around the rim, keeps defenders guessing whether he wants to blow by them or shoot if given the space.
Defensively, Alexander-Walker and Daniels form one of the best perimeter duos in the league. Adding Lu Dort now arguably gives the Hawks the best perimeter defensive trio in the NBA. McCollum is no slouch defensively, but if a team decides to hunt him on defense, the Hawks can adjust and bring in defenders to shut down that plan.
It will be interesting to see what Daniels, McCollum, and Alexander-Walker add to their games to make Atlanta's triple-guard lineup even more dangerous this season.
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