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In-stadium commentary at Mt SmartDyson Daniels on Most Improved award, future in Atlanta, love for AFL and more
Jaiden Sciberras • May 2nd, 2025 5:23 pm
Dyson Daniels has exploded onto the international sporting scene, taking his game to the next level to reach NBA stardom throughout the 2024-25 season.
In just his second season in the league, Daniels was traded to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a package to send guard Dejounte Murray to New Orleans.
Emerging as a starter for the Hawks, Daniels saw a huge jump in his game, averaging 14 points, six boards and a record-breaking three steals per game, the most in a single season since 1990-91.
Forming an elite backcourt duo with All-Star guard Trae Young, Daniels was awarded with the Kia NBA Most Improved Player award for his significant improvement, while also finishing second in the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award behind Cavalier Evan Mobley.
Since his arrival, Daniels has thrived during his time in Georgia, and with his contract set to expire at the end of next season, the 6’8” guard has expressed keen interest in remaining at the Hawks for the foreseeable future.
“Atlanta has given me the opportunity to really thrive this year,” Daniels told SEN’s The Run Home.
“The city has been great; the team is great. Obviously, this year being a contract year I’m able to re-sign so hopefully I’ll do that and be put here in Atlanta for the next however many years.
“I like the city, I want to be here, and I want to play for them."
Speaking on the trade from New Orleans, Daniels explained the feeling of being shipped unknowingly, particularly highlighting the personal nature of being traded.
"The NBA is funny," he said.
“You never know, one day they love you and one day you're gone.
“You take it personally for the first few days, but after that you really kind of reflect on the reasons of what it could have been.
“I’m grateful for my time in New Orleans, obviously at the time they had a really good player in Dejounte Murray on the table, and you’ve got to give up some stuff for a player of that calibre.
“I kind of looked at it as, Atlanta really wanted me and see an opportunity for me to really thrive in a role they have.
“It’s weird, being traded. Sometimes you don’t expect it... I had no idea.
"The first few days was a little weird but once I settled down and really thought about it, I was able to think of the positives that can come out of it.”
With Daniels’ sudden burst onto the scene, the 22-year-old fell victim to one of the NBA’s best nicknames – the Great Barrier Thief.
The name combines the Great Barrier Reef - a nod to Australia's beautiful coral reef - with the term ‘thief’, given the guard’s incredible ability to pick pockets on the court.
“It’s stuck,” he said.
“I have to explain it to every American, they have no idea what the Great Barrier Reef is.
“I spend have my day explaining what it means. I didn’t even give myself that nickname, but it’s definitely stuck.
“I might have to put something out there so they can read on what the Great Barrier Reef is.”
While Daniels has presented as a special talent in Australian sport, he could soon be outshone by his own family.
Dyson’s younger brother Dash Daniels has also made significant steps in advancing his career, recently signing his first professional contract with NBL side Melbourne United.
The 17-year-old has enormous upside, averaging five points and nearly four rebounds in the NBL 1 last season.
“He has made a big step, only 17 years old so he still got a lot of development left in him.
“He is a similar player to me. A really good defender developing his offensive game. If you’ve watched me platy I’d say we play pretty similar.
“He can play make, his shot is coming along but he’s got a really good frame, he is my height already – 6’6”-6’7” – he’ll be a little taller than me, but I’ll never let him be better than me.”
Daniels also failed to rule out any return to Australian football, playing the sport for a majority of his junior sporting career.
“I played a lot of footy growing up, played for about 7 years back in Bendigo.
“I love my footy, my older brother is in the Richmond VFL squad so credit to him for that.
“I always come home and catch games; I love the sport it’s my favourite sport to watch.
“I always say I’d love to come back and play one day. Who knows, we’ll see.”
With the Hawks falling short in the Play-In’s, Daniels will undergo his first off-season without team or international commitments, with a Defensive Player of the Year in his sights for the coming years.
