Daniels has impressed for the Pelicans (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images/AFP)Source: AFP“I said he kind of looks like the second coming of Lonzo Ball in a really positive way. I was wrong about that – he looks better than Lonzo Ball,” Locked On Pelicans Jake Madison said.
“We look for the guy to be proverbially turning the corner … I do think maybe the lightbulb is coming on for Dyson Daniels.
“He looked really good and defensively he’s already NBA ready and he’s a really good rebounder … you really see what he’s capable of doing – defending on the perimeter, being a solid help defender and rotating over to take away the rim and he’s capable of defending down low.
“And fitting right in offensively. When Zion (Williamson) kicked the ball out to him and he made the three, you knew you were in for a really good performance from him.
“Whether it was making the right pass in transition, connecting the offence, running the pick and roll, or trying to get downhill and score – he scored in the paint, at the rim and from three.
“This is why they drafted him eighth overall.
“This is a guy who should be getting more minutes … he looks like Lonzo Ball, but bigger and better defensively and more aggressive in getting downhill.
“You really see he’s going to be an integral part of this squad … he’s a guy that’s now entrenched in the rotation, partially because of injuries.
“I love what we’re seeing from him and he needs to have a big role going forward.”
Daniels fights for the ball against Luka Doncic (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesAfter not being part of the Pelicans main rotation to start the season, Daniels saw his minutes gradually ramp up throughout November – including an increase in each of his last six overall appearances – by having an impact in multiple ways whenever he took the floor.
Getting those minutes has been no easy feat on a much-improved New Orleans side that currently sits third in the West at 13-8 – the NBA’s sixth-best record overall –as a dark horse contender, boasting one of the deepest rotations in the league – led by stars such as Zion Williamson, Ingram and McCollum.
Injuries have clearly helped Daniels get more opporuntities, but performances such as Thursday’s should, as Madison noted, demand he plays a bigger role even when the Pelicans get healthy.
New Orleans coach Willie Green suggested as much post-match in his huge praise of Daniels, saying he was “huge” and “just keeps getting better and better the more he gets time.”
Earning that trust from a coach is massive, and Daniels has impressively done that in a short space of time.
“Here’s the stat that tells you he was good,” Madison added.
“The Pelicans had a line-up out there … it was Dyson Daniels, DeVonte Graham, Garrett Temple, Larry Nance Jr and Willy Hernangomez.
“That line-up – all being five guys off the bench – should not work, that line-up should be really bad.
“I did a double take, I couldn’t believe it. It was like: ‘Willie Green, what are you doing?’
“And here’s the thing – that line-up worked really well. With Dyson Daniels out there with that group, they were +8 in the second quarter alone.
“It was because Dyson Daniels made it work – pulling the strings on offence, connecting guys, playing really good defence to slow down Toronto and just making it easy for the rest of them.
“He was incredible and you can really see the growth he is taking.”
Green wasn’t the only one to laud the Aussie post-match, with teammates Williamson and Murphy also showing him love.
It’s evident that this young man has won the respect of the locker room.
And while he may not be the biggest name in Australian basketball media circles yet, Daniels is quickly shooting up the ranks of the country’s best players.
From 13 games this season, Daniels has averaged 5.7 points on 53 per cent shooting, 0.7 threes on 47 per cent shooting, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks in just 17.5 minutes.
Those numbers mightn’t jump off the page, but per 36 minutes – which is essentially what his stats would look like if he played 36 minutes a game – they improve to 11.7 points, 1.4 threes, 8.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks.
It’s the mould of a very diverse and versatile player – the type that fits the modern NBA to a tee.
The fact that at 19, he’s already contributing to one of the best teams in the league should tell you everything you need to know, with special things coming for the wiz kid from Down Under.
