The Atlanta Hawks are soaring in the postseason, and it's been in large part due to the two-way excellence of Dyson Daniels. His versatile abilities to flip any game on its back make him such an important part of Atlanta's young core. At times, he can struggle from the outside, but his dominance in every other aspect of the game is undeniable.
If there's anyone who understand growth and impact, it's his teammate Jonathan Kuminga. While he wasn't in any sort of major role, he won a championship with the Golden State Warriors, making him the only rostered Hawk with title experience. He knows what it takes to be a winner, and his recent co-sign of Daniels' impact to winning basketball tells doubters everything they need to know.
Daniels doesn't always dominate the box score, but his impact is felt
"I think Dyson is great for us," Kuminga shared after the Game Three win. "He does a lot of things that don't show up on the sheet." Some of the most impactful players in the league won't usually put up incredible numbers, but it's the little things that determine the outcome of a 48-minute game.
Take Derrick White, for example. Averaging an inefficient 16.5 points per game, he's likely to make an All-NBA team this season due to his underrated presence on both ends. His two-way abilities have kept Boston at the top of the Eastern Conference despite a world of uncertainty heading into the year. There's no reason Daniels can't have a similar impact, if not greater, on a championship-level squad.
After last night’s win, I talked to Jonathan Kuminga about how much sharing the floor with Dyson Daniels has elevated his game, especially in this playoff environment.
— Zach Langley (@ZachLangleyNBA) April 24, 2026
“He’s one of the best defenders in this league. He rebounds like crazy. Just him being on our floor, he helps… pic.twitter.com/nBN7s4FoYZ
In Jonathan Kuminga's rookie season, when he was a part of the Golden State squad that took home a championship, he played his role perfectly. It wasn't in big minutes, and he wasn't depended on for things outside of his comfortability, but he made the most of what he got. This made him as important to that team as he could be.
He excels at aspects of the game even more important than scoring
"Those are the things that kind of help us win every single game," Kuminga added in regards to all of the unique ways Daniels can sway an outcome. “He’s one of the best defenders in this league. He rebounds like crazy. Just him being on our floor, he helps us balance a lot of things, and he does a lot of things that don’t show up on paper.”
It's true. Daniels is one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA, creating unexpected advantages for Atlanta on both the defensive and offensive glass. The Hawks will take any second-chances they can get, and often times they're created by the former Most Improved Player.
Balance is what's defined this team in their remarkable turnaround. They have elite scorers, rebounders, playmakers and defenders. They also have guys who can do it all, and Daniels embodies that claim in the most impactful way.
Atlanta needs The Great Barrier Thief, and Jonathan Kuminga knows it. "He helps us a lot, especially when it comes down to winning."
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