Source : ABC NEWS
Australia’s Dyson Daniels has been named the NBA’s most improved player.
Daniels, who plays for Atlanta Hawks, beat out fellow finalists Ivica Zubac (Los Angeles Clippers) and Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons).
The 22-year-old emerged as a productive starter at shooting guard for the Hawks after arriving in Atlanta in the trade that sent high-scoring guard Dejounte Murray to New Orleans on July 6.
Before the trade, Daniels was best known for his defensive play.
Injuries and other trades helped clear the way for the 6-foot-7 Daniels to flourish as a scoring complement to Trae Young while providing impressive all-around production.
Bendigo-born Daniels is now entrenched as an important foundation player for the Hawks, joining Young, forward Jalen Johnson and 2024 number one overall NBA draft pick Zaccharie Risacher.
He led the NBA with 229 steals, the most since Seattle’s Gary Payton had 231 in the 1995/96 season.
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Daniels finished as the runner-up to Cleveland’s Evan Mobley in the voting for NBA defensive player of the year.
His nickname — ‘Great Barrier Thief’ — is a nod to his roots in Australia and defensive prowess.
Daniels’s impressive gains as a scorer, defender, rebounder and playmaker helped him claim the top spot in the voting for most improved player.
Thanks to his role as a starter beside Young in Atlanta’s back-court, Daniels improved his scoring from 5.8 points per game with New Orleans in 2023/24 to 14.1.
His rebounds rose from 3.9 to 5.9, his steals from 1.4 to 3.0 and his assists from 2.7 to 4.4.
Daniels became only the fifth player since 1973/74 to average at least 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals, joining Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Michael Ray Richardson and Alvin Robertson.
The most improved player award, like several other NBA honours, was voted on by a global panel of 100 writers and broadcasters who cover the league and cast ballots shortly after the end of the regular season.
AP
