Hawks React to Major NBA Announcement on Wednesday
The NBA announced on Wednesday that Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks has won the 2025 Most Improved Player award. Daniels might have missed out on winning the Defensive Player of the Year this season. However, many saw how he improved in the 2024-25 season and earned the reward.
Daniels impacted the team on both ends in his first season with the Hawks. Coming from the New Orleans Pelicans, the Great Barrier Thief showed how reliable he can be on both ends of the floor.
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Last season, he averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists. While he played 61 games for the Pelicans, he was limited to 22.3 minutes and was mostly on the bench.
That changed when he arrived in Atlanta.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels on the court before the game against the New York Knicks at State Farm Arena.Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Daniels became a starter with the Hawks and averaged 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists, all career-highs. Additionally, his steals went from 1.4 to 3.0 after a season. The 6-foot-7 shooting guard led the league in steals and cemented himself as one of the elite perimeter defenders.
After the announcement, the Hawks showed their pride for Daniels on X for winning the George Mikan Trophy.
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"Most Improved. Undeniably."
Daniels had 44 first-place votes, which pushed him to win his much-deserved award. He beat Los Angeles Clippers' Ivica Zubac and Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham, both finalists to win the trophy.
The Hawks guard made history after winning the award. According to StatMuse on X, Daniels became the first MIP winner to average at least three steals since Alvin Robertson in 1986. Robertson played for the San Antonio Spurs and was the first player to win the trophy.
The former Spurs player earned the honor in his sophomore season. The season before, Robertson averaged 9.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals. The following year, the shooting guard improved to 17 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 steals.
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Robertson also earned the Defensive Player of the Year award that same year.
Related: Ben Simmons Endorses Dyson Daniels for DPOY Amid Historic Steals Season
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