Dyson Daniels earns spot on notable list amid breakout season with Hawks

Dyson Daniels has had the breakout season Hawks fans dreamt of when Atlanta traded Dejounte Murray for the young gun. Even for those who believed Daniels was primed for a third-year leap, the Great Barrier Thief has exceeded expectations.

In Atlanta’s recent Dec. 23 outing, Daniels picked Minnesota’s pockets for a career-high eight steals. The Hawks beat the Timberwolves 117-104 in large part due to Daniels’ electric two-way performance. The Australian combo guard posted a game-high plus-minus of +16 and added 10 points, eight rebounds, and four assists to his bonanza of steals.

After Daniels’ incredible night, ESPN published a story on Dec. 24 covering the nine most improved players aged 25 or younger. NBA writer Neil Paine included Daniels on the list of under-25 players enjoying breakout campaigns.

Paine called Daniels’ season “nothing short of startling.” On top of his league-leading 3.1 steals per game, the Great Barrier Thief is averaging strong career highs in points, assists, rebounds, blocks, and minutes.

“The No. 8 pick in the 2022 draft already made a huge leap in estimated RAPTOR last season (from -3.2 to +0.1) as a member of the Pelicans, but he has gotten far better again (rising to +1.4) with the Hawks at age 21 this season as a starter at the 2 spot,” Paine wrote. “Not only is Daniels scoring a career-high 13.1 PPG, but, with a plus-2.5 estimated RAPTOR specifically on defense, he has established himself as one of the NBA's best wing defenders.”

Dyson Daniels’ breakout season goes way beyond his steals

Paine’s use of advanced stats like his estimated RAPTOR wins above replacement (WAR) only made it easier for Daniels to make the list. Daniels’ impact goes well beyond the box score, and Hawks fans know that as well as anybody.

Daniels is on pace to shatter the record for deflections in a single season. He is averaging a historic 6.5 deflections with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic sitting at second with 3.8 deflections per game. 

Daniels’ constant activity and impact as a deflection hog will make him the heavy favorite to win the NBA Hustle Award. The Hawks fan favorite also ranks third among all guards in contested shots and fourth among all players in loose balls recovered. Alex Caruso won the award last season while leading the league in deflections, making Daniels a safe bet to win it this time around.

The Great Barrier Thief has truly earned his new nickname with one of the most impressive defensive seasons in NBA history. Through his first 28 games of the season, Daniels recorded 89 steals – the most by any player since former Hawks coach Nate McMillan did it more than three decades ago in 1993. 

In November, Daniels also became just the second player ever to record six or more steals in four straight games. He is also the youngest to do so.

Daniels is a certified ball hawk who has helped Atlanta go from last season’s No. 27 defense to this season’s No. 18 defense. The Hawks have improved their defensive rating from last year by nearly five points.

Daniels has displayed huge individual growth as a two-way beast who can stuff the stat sheet, but his greatest value comes from how he has helped the Hawks transform their identity and culture. After an abysmal 36-46 campaign that ended in a pathetic play-in loss, Atlanta has come back with vengeance. Daniels has helped the Hawks put that vengeance into overdrive.

This young Hawks team has already shown as much heart as any other team in the Trae Young era, and Daniels has much to do with it. Atlanta’s best-kept secret is becoming less of a secret by the day. If he continues to get steals like it’s going out of style, Daniels should find himself in the national spotlight more and more often.