Dyson Daniels claims inaugural major NBA defensive honour | Sporting News Australia

by Admin
December 3, 2024

Dyson Daniels’ historic defensive season has continued this week, officially being named as the first-ever Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month.

Alongside San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama in the West, Daniels was recognised by the league as the best defender in his conference, a well-earned nod considering his lockdown season so far.

The current league-leader in steals by a wide margin, the Australian has firmly established himself as one of, if not the premier perimeter defender in the NBA, a fact that his new team in Atlanta could not be more thrilled about.

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Dyson Daniels claims inaugural major NBA defensive honour

Daniels came into the league being sold as an elite defender, and while he lived up to this reputation immediately, he has taken it to another level since being traded.

Named as the Defensive Player of the Month in the East, Daniels is averaging 3.1 steals per game, leading the league by an entire steal, as well as commanding a massive lead in deflections per game, 6.7.

San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama and Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Defensive Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in October/November, becoming the first recipients of the new award. pic.twitter.com/tDMp2T6wny

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 3, 2024

Daniels has already claimed a number of key defensive moments this season – his game-winning strip of De’Aaron Fox set social media alight, as did his four-game streak in mid-November where he recorded six or more steals.

The league has quickly taken notice of Daniels’ stunning defensive surge; new teammate Trae Young recently said that he sees “first-team defence as many years as he wants to,” Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell believes “he’s unique, he does it in different ways… he’s a hell of a defender,” while Kyrie Irving told reporters that Daniels was one of the league’s most fearsome defenders.

They don’t call Dyson Daniels “The Great Barrier Thief” for nothing pic.twitter.com/2sDty3SYSH

— Lev Akabas (@LevAkabas) November 30, 2024

While there is plenty of season left to play, Daniels continuing his current form will all but assure him of a spot on the NBA’s All-Defence first team, as well as a legitimate contender in the Defensive Player of the Year race.