The Atlanta Hawks have built a roster with an eye-opening number of shot creators capable of putting points on the board. That includes franchise player Jalen Johnson, standout guards Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum, and up-and-coming forward Jonathan Kuminga.
With no less than four players in need of significant scoring opportunities, that's made complementary talent all the more important. Thankfully, Dyson Daniels checks that crucial box.
Daniels broke out in 2024-25, dominating as a defensive playmaker and shooting 34.0 percent from beyond the arc in a display of clear two-way value. He led the NBA in steals, won Most Improved Player, earned All-Defensive First Team honors, and finished second in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year.
Daniels continues to be one of the best defenders in the NBA, but a lackluster three-point shooting campaign has led to many downplaying and even overlooking his offensive value.
Daniels is shooting just 19.0 percent from beyond the arc in 2025-26—a putrid number that sits 12.1 percent below his previous career-low. He's quietly evolved in other phases of the game, however, and has thus become the perfect player for a team that already has a handful of shot creators to feed.
By improving as an offensive playmaker, sustaining his quality as an inside finisher, and even experiencing a recent uptick in three-point volume and efficiency, Daniels can be the glue that binds the Hawks' moving pieces.
Dyson Daniels is the low-maintenance pillar Hawks need next to scorers
Daniels has converted 10 three-point field goals over his past nine games, shooting at a clip of .556/.435/.692. By comparison, he'd made 12 threes between his first 65 appearances in 2025-26, shooting a mind-boggling 12.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Even if his current rate of efficiency ultimately proves unsustainable, the simple fact that he's attempting and converting jumpers again has given the Hawks an immeasurable boost.
That only scratches the surface of how he's become the perfect complement to the stars, however, as his evolution as a facilitator has been his most important development. He's averaging a career-best 5.8 assists per game, which is up from his previous high of 4.4 in 2024-25.
Daniels has increased his volume without becoming more prone to mistakes, actually improving his assist-to-turnover ratio from 2.15 a season ago to 3.26 in 2025-26.
Daniels is also shooting 47.0 percent on 10.0 drives per game, which is in line with his 2024-25 marks of 46.0 percent on 10.3 drives per game. Though his three-point shooting is still a question mark, all other signs point to him still being a top-tier two-way supporting wing.
If Daniels' jump shot truly is restored, the Hawks' already elite starting lineup should be even more effective come the 2026 NBA Playoffs.