Social media buzzing as Dyson Daniels, Boomers advance in Olympics

The 2024-25 season could be Dyson Daniels’ breakout campaign. 

The Atlanta Hawks acquired the former first-round pick in the trade that sent Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans. Daniels has yet to suit up for his new team with preseason still over one month away.  

He has, however, been putting on a show with the Australian National Team. The Boomers are advancing to the quarterfinal round after Canada defeated Spain on August 2. 

Daniels has been a key part of that and has drawn rave reviews.

“One of my favorite players to watch in the Olympics so far: Dyson Daniels. Love his defense,” “Lockdown Defense: Developing Elite Defenders” co-author Mike Jagacki posted on X on August 2.

Daniels had 11 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and one steal while shooting 57% from the floor and 40% from beyond the arc in a 77-71 loss to Greece on Wednesday.

That final number may be the most significant.

Daniels’ defense has been as advertised. The 6-foot-7 Daniels graded out as one of the league’s top point-of-attack stoppers in 2023-24. It is perimeter shooting that has been his biggest question mark.

He is averaging 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.0 steals while shooting 41.7% from three-point range during the Olympics. He is Australia’s fourth-leading scorer.

Notably, former Hawks Jock Landale (Houston Rockets) and Patty Mills (Miami Heat) are higher.

Daniels averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 boards, and 2.7 assists with the Pelicans in 2023-24. He shot 31.1% on 2.2 attempts from deep while appearing in 61 games, drawing 16 starts. He was a markedly more efficient shooter off the bench.

Daniels connected on 37.5% of his deep looks as a reserve compared to 21.8% as a starter. He averaged 3.4 deep attempts per game as a starter and 1.7 attempts when coming off the bench. 

He is averaging 4.0 attempts during the Olympics.

Of course, the Olympic three-point line is nearly a foot shorter than in the NBA. Getting that efficiency to translate is going to be key for the Hawks if they have designs on Daniels playing a large role or even starting next to Trae Young. 

If he cannot, teams will simply crowd the three-time All-Star.

Daniels did suffer a knee injury scare during the loss to Greece. But he returned to the floor and finished the game strong.

Bogdan Bogdanovic sends message to former Hawks teammate

While Daniels is teaming up with former Hawks guard Patty Mills, his current teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic is starring for Serbia as their second-leading scorer behind Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.

Bogdanovic is averaging 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 37.5% from deep for Serbia, who is 1-1 with a matchup versus South Sudan slated for August 3. 

He tagged Mills in a quoted post of himself rocking Olympic-themed glasses.

"Sunnies" is the slang term for sunglasses in Australia.

Mills is Australia’s third-leading scorer averaging 13.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He is shooting 41.2% on 5.7 attempts. Landale leads the team with 17.7 points per game, adding 9.7 boards and 3.3 assists to his line.

The Hawks waived Mills in February and he signed with the Heat in free agency in March. They acquired Landale with Murray from the San Antonio Spurs in 2022.

They traded him with one week to the Phoenix Suns in a salary dump.