Aussie Sensation Dyson Daniels Claims Coveted NBA Honour Following Snub

Dyson Daniels’ impressive all-round development has earned him the title of the 2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player, an accolade announced on Thursday.

Just last week, despite a strong performance, Daniels missed out on the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award, finishing in second place.

In his inaugural season with the Atlanta Hawks, following two years with the New Orleans Pelicans, Daniels achieved career-high statistics, recording averages of 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks across the regular season.

This season saw a remarkable growth in his scoring, rebounding, and assisting abilities.

A global panel of 100 voters determined the victor, with Daniels claiming the top spot with an impressive total of 332 points.

In a decisive win, Daniels surpassed Clippers centre Ivica Zubac, who garnered 186 points, and Cade Cunningham from Detroit, who received 122 points, to secure this esteemed recognition.

Daniels triumphed with an overwhelming number of 44 first-place votes (each worth five points) from the panel.

Additionally, 36 voters ranked him second (three points), while four placed him third (one point).

Prior to his trade to the Hawks last July, Daniels was already regarded as one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. His new starting position and increased playing time in Atlanta enabled him to display a distinctive blend of physicality, discipline, and instinct.

Just last Friday, Daniels missed out on the DPOY award to Cleveland’s Evan Mobley — a result some analysts have questioned.

During the season, the Bendigo native was recognised by 13 NBA coaches as the league’s finest defensive player, the highest number among all contenders, yet fell short in the votes from a panel of 100 NBA writers and broadcasters.

This season, Daniels topped the NBA charts with 229 steals, the highest since Gary Payton achieved 231 steals in the 1995-96 season.

He also became only the fifth player to average at least 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game since the 1973-74 season, joining legends such as Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Michael Ray Richardson, and Alvin Robertson.

Known as the ‘Great Barrier Thief’, Daniels’ nickname cleverly references his Australian roots and his defensive prowess.