There couldn't be more of a difference in the way Dyson Daniels is talked about amongst Hawks fans versus the national media.
He was one of the most loved players in the league during his breakout 2024-25 campaign - one that ended with him rightfully taking home Most Improved Player. It was the year after, however, that completely flipped the main narrative surrounding his game.
Daniels' ability to knock down threes at a solid rate diminished. He shot just 18.8% from deep. Not good.
Everything else he provided offensively last season, though, got ignored because of it. His incredible playmaking, driving and offensive rebounding weren't enough to shift his image for the better.
Atlanta made it an early focal point to get Daniels involved
The only way to prove critics wrong, well, is to prove them wrong.
While Daniels didn't knock down either of his two attempts from deep in Atlanta's opening night victory over Orlando, he remained one of their leading scorers.
He scored 20 on the night - leading all scorers on the Hawks' side after a half of play.
While his second half performance saw steady production and impact, the way he came out of the gates was incredible to see. The staff clearly wants the ball in his hands, and they have plenty of reason to.
Daniels has always been a good finisher, but the way he converted near the rim on Wednesday night was ridiculous. Play after play, the lead ball-handler would find him near the basket, and even if the look was contested, which many were, Daniels was automatic.
Even in the possessions that began with him as the handler at the top of the key, he would catch his defender off balance, spin towards the rim, and make them pay. Daniels had 16 in just one half of play, along with four steals.
Regardless of his offensive output, Daniels remains a world-class defender
It's just a plus that he's also an extremely solid offensive player.
If he truly was a complete negative on that end, as everyone around the league seems to believe, Daniels would still command significant nightly minutes due to his stable brilliance locking up the league's best players.
As a highly-versatile two-way weapon, Daniels is blossoming into one of the most impactful all-around players in the NBA. Atlanta is lucky to have him on board, as his presence will be crucial to any immediate success they plan on achieving.
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