Bendigo-raised basketballer Dyson Daniels has become the first Australian to win an open NBA award after claiming the most improved award on Thursday.
Daniels, who was nicknamed the “Great Barrier Thief” by US fans for his defensive prowess, earned 332 votes to beat the Los Angeles Clippers’ Ivica Zubak on 186 and the Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham on 122.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels drives to the hoop.Credit: AP
The award, named the George Mikan Trophy, has previously been won by the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tracy McGrady, Jimmy Butler and Kevin Love.
Ben Simmons won the rookie of the year award in 2017-2018 and was the first Australian to be named an All-Star, but Daniels’ honour is the first time an Australian has won an award open to everyone in the NBA.
Dyson Daniels goes up for a dunk.Credit: Getty Images
Daniels also came close to snatching the NBA defensive player of the year award when he finished second to Cleveland big man Eric Mobley.
The 22-year-old led the NBA in steals this season while making dramatic improvements in scoring, rebounds and assists. “You’ve got to separate yourself somehow and I’ve done that on the defensive end of the floor,” Daniels said.
He arrived in Atlanta as part of the trade that sent high-scoring guard Dejounte Murray to New Orleans last year. Daniels has flourished at the Hawks as a scoring complement to Trae Young.
Daniels led the NBA with 229 steals, the most since Seattle’s Gary Payton had 231 in the 1995-96 season.
His impressive gains as a scorer, defender, rebounder and play-maker 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 backcourt, Daniels improved his scoring from 5.8 points per game with New Orleans in 2023-24 to 14.1, his rebounds from 3.9 to 5.9, his steals from 1.4 to 3.0 and his assists from 2.7 to 4.4.
“I got told a lot this year that my defence is infectious,” Daniels said. “To me, that means I’m doing my job.
“I know as a team we have a long way to go on the defensive end, but I think this year we took a step in the right direction.”
Daniels is now entrenched as am important cog for the Hawks, joining Young, forward Jalen Johnson and 2024 No.1 overall NBA draft pick Zaccharie Risacher, who was the runner-up in Tuesday’s rookie of the year award won by San Antonio’s Stephon Castle.
