Atlanta's Aussie crowned NBA's most improved player
Dyson Daniels, who led the NBA in steals while making dramatic improvements in scoring, rebounds and assists for Atlanta, has been named the league's most improved player.
Daniels beat out fellow finalists Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers and Cade Cunningham of Detroit.
The 22-year-old Daniels 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 Victorian to flourish as a scoring complement to Trae Young while providing impressive all-around production.
Daniels now is entrenched as an important foundation player 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.
Dyson Daniels is the 2024-25 Kia NBA Most Improved Player!14.1 PPG5.9 RPG4.4 APG 3.0 SPG (NBA leader)#KiaMIP | @Kia pic.twitter.com/4jjDPuljoX
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2025
Daniels led the NBA with 229 steals, the most since Seattle's Gary Payton had 231 in the 1995-96 season. He finished as the runner-up to Cleveland's Evan Mobley in the voting for NBA defensive player of the year.
Daniels' nickname — Great Barrier Thief — is a nod to his roots in Australia and defensive prowess.
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.
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.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder lobbied for Daniels to be recognised as the league's top defensive player but also took note of the young guard's overall gains.
"I think his ability to be as effective as he is on the ball, you see that and feel that," Snyder said.
"I think also his ability to drive the ball. So to me, those two things are his aggressiveness. And in order to be aggressive, you have to be fearless. So I think maybe the biggest thing that I wanted to try to communicate to Dyson to the extent we can instil something in someone is don't be afraid to make a mistake."
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Atlanta Falcons post-draft position preview: Center
Atlanta Falcons post-draft position preview: Center Veteran Ryan Neuzil to replace Drew Dalman as Atlanta's starting center in 2025 The Atlanta Falcons should benefit from continuity on offense this season with 10 of 11 starters set to return in 2025. However, center Drew Dalman signed a lucrative deal with the Chicago Bears on the opening day of NFL free agency, leaving a hole in the middle of Atlanta's offensive line. Since the team didn't add a center in the draft, the Falcons will look to veteran backup Ryan Neuzil to step up in 2025. After starting eight games last season, Neuzil will enter the year as the starter for the first time in his NFL career. In today's post-draft preview, we examine the center position, including depth chart, salary cap space and available free agents. Center depth chart Ryan Neuzil Jovaughn Gwyn Matthew Cindric Michael Gonzalez As you can see above, there's no real threat or competition for Neuzil at center. Gwyn is a former seventh-round pick and has only appeared in two career games. Cindric is a former undrafted free agent who spent his first year in Minnesota. The Falcons signed Gonzalez is an undrafted free agent out of Louisville while they waited for Neuzil to sign his contract. 2025 salary cap hits Neuzil: $3,263,000 Gwyn: $1,030,000 Cindric: $840,000 Gonzalez: $840,000 The Falcons signed Neuzil to a two-year, $9.5 million deal in late May. His 2025 salary cap hit is $3.2 million, which isn't bad for a starting offensive lineman. Gwyn has the second-highest cap hit of the team's centers at $1 million this season. Cindric and Gonzalez are outside of the Falcons' top 51 players in terms of salary cap this season ($840,000 apiece). Top free agents available David Andrews (retired) Nick Harris Dan Feeney Nick Gates The free-agent center market leaves a lot to be desired. It's clear why the team felt bringing back Neuzil was its best option. Former Patriots center David Andrews would have been a good option but he opted to retire following his release. Dan Feeney and Nick Gates are a few low-end options the team could consider if they don't like their current group. Predictions/expectations for 2025 Neuzil is a former undrafted free agent who's spent his entire career as a backup. He played well in place of Dalman last season and now it's his time to shine. While Neuzil doesn't have much experience, he's in a good spot playing between Pro Bowl guard Chris Lindstrom and former second-round pick Matthew Bergeron. If Neuzil doesn't get the job done this season, perhaps the team will give Gwyn a look. Falcons post-draft position breakdowns
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Kevin Durant trade coming in ‘next few days' with three contenders making big push
A Kevin Durant trade appears imminent. ESPN's Shams Charania reported Friday on 'The Pat McAfee Show' that the Suns superstar could be traded 'in the next few days' with the Rockets, Heat and Timberwolves at the forefront of the negotiations. 'There is some serious traction on conversations, on trade scenarios with the Suns,' Charania said, noting that between six and eight teams have reached out to Phoenix, but that the front office has keyed in on conversations with those three contenders in the past day or two. Advertisement Charania initially reported that the Knicks were in the mix for Durant, but The Post's Stefan Bondy reported they were not a suitor. Suns forward Kevin Durant during a game on March 30, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images On Thursday, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported there is an 'increasingly strong belief' Durant will be moved before the NBA Draft on June 25. Durant is in the final year of his four-year, $166 million deal, which potential trade partners must take into account before pulling the trigger on a deal. Advertisement An extension for Durant is one of the crucial questions remaining in talks. And the teams that are considering trading for Durant must consider whether they would be willing to sign the 36-year-old to an expensive extension, or if they'd be content to have Durant as a one-year rental. Advertisement Charania likened that potential situation to the Raptors' 2018 trade for Kawhi Leonard, who delivered Toronto a title in his one season with the team before signing with the Clippers in free agency. Durant is in the latter stages of his career, but he has remained a dominant scorer. ESPN's Shams Charania reported Friday that Kevin Durant could be traded 'in the next few days.' @PatMcAfeeShow/X The 15-time All-Star averaged 26.6 points in 62 games with the Suns last season, although the team went 36-46 and missed the playoffs. Advertisement Durant would likely have a crack at a third NBA title with either Houston, Minnesota or Miami — although the Heat aren't as well-positioned to make a deep playoff run as the Rockets and Timberwolves are. In Houston, Durant would slot in alongside an exciting upstart team with young stars like Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. Minnesota presents the opportunity to play with an already contending squad that features superstar Anthony Edwards.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
UFC Atlanta Fight Card: Odds, Lines, Prop Bets, Predictions And Picks
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 13: Joaquin Buckley poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in ... More on June 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC) Saturday's UFC Atlanta fight card features two pivotal bouts at the top of the marquee. In the main event, former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman looks to end his losing skid while also putting the brakes on Joaquin Buckley's rise up the 170-pound rankings. Meanwhile, in the UFC Atlanta co-main event, former two-time UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas faces the rising Miranda Maverick in a flyweight scrap. We look at the betting odds, line movement, prediction, picks, and prop bets for the UFC Atlanta main card, which takes place on Saturday, June 14 from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The UFC Atlanta fight card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 13: Kamaru Usman of Nigeria poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night ... More weigh-in on June 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC) Kamaru Usman (20-4) , the former UFC welterweight champion, enters UFC Atlanta on a three-fight losing skid. The 38-year-old last fought in October 2023, when he dropped a split decision to Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight matchup. Usman lost his 170-pound crown to Edwards via a head-kick knockout at UFC 278 in August 2022. He dropped the rematch at UFC 286 in March of 2023 via a majority decision. Before his loss, Usman had defended the title five times. Usman is the No. 5 ranked fighter in the UFC's welterweight weight class. He has a career record of 20-3. Joaquin Buckley (21-6) is the No. 7 fighter in the UFC's 170-pound weight class. The 31-year-old Buckley is one quite a run since dropping to welterweight in 2023. Buckley is 6-0 during his current welterweight run with four knockouts and two decision wins. He fought four times in 2024, picking up a knockout win over Vicente Luque, a decision victory over Nursulton Ruziboev, a knockout over two-time UFC title challenger Stephen Thompson. Buckley finished the year with a doctor stoppage TKO win over former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington in December. When the betting lines opened for the UFC Atlanta main event, Usman was a +220 betting underdog to the -275 Buckley. Today, Buckley is the -285 betting favorite, while the former UFC champ is a +225 betting underdog. Usman has received 70 percent of the bets on this fight, while 56 percent of the handle has come in on Buckley. The betting pick is for Buckley to win via decision, but there's a chance of a Buckley knockout victory. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 13: Rose Namajunas poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in on ... More June 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC) Rose Namajunas (13-7) was 2-1 and had under two years of professional MMA experience when she fought Carla Esparza for the UFC women's strawweight title on the season finale of The Ultimate Fighter Season 20. Esparza won that December 2014 bout by submission, claiming the inaugural 115-pound title. Over the next few years, Namajunas was essentially learning on the job, and she learned well, running up a record of 4-1 between October 2015 and April 2017. In November 2017, Namajunas stepped into the Octagon to face then-UFC strawweight titleholder Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The champ was a -700 favorite on fight night, while the challenger checked in at +500. Namajunas stunned the MMA world that night, scoring an upset first-round knockout win to become the champ. Proving her victory was not a fluke, Namajunas defeated Jedrzejczyk by decision in their rematch in April 2018. Namajunas lost the title in her second attempted defense when Jessica Andrade scored a slam knockout win at UFC 237. A non-title fight victory over Andrade, who dropped the belt in August 2019 to Zhang Weili, followed. That win earned Namajunas another shot at the title. In April 2021, Namajunas regained the belt with a perfectly timed head kick to stop Weili in the first round. She defeated the former champ by decision in their rematch in November 2021. Namajunas surrendered the title to Esparza in May 2022 in a tepid performance. Since losing the title, Namajunas is 2-2 at 125 pounds, losing a decision to Manon Fiorot in September 2023, defeating Amanda Ribas by decision in March 2024 and beating Tracy Cortez by decision in July 2024. In her most recent outing, Namajunas dropped a decision to Erin Blanchfield in November. Namajunas is the No. 7 ranked UFC women's flyweight fighter. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 13: Miranda Maverick poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in ... More on June 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC) Miranda Maverick (15-5) joined the UFC in 2020 after spending most of her time with Invicta FC. At the time, she was 7-2 and coming off a 'Performance of the Night' bonus-winning decision win over Pearl Gonzalez. Maverick opened her UFC career with two wins. The promotion then matched her against another young fighter, Maycee Barber. Barber was on a two-fight losing skid at the time. She ended that run of defeats with a split-decision win over Maverick. Things did not get any easier for Maverick in her next matchup, as the UFC booked her opposite Erin Blanchfield, who was 1-0 in the UFC, but riding a four-fight winning streak. Blanchfield kept that winning streak intact with a unanimous decision win over Maverick. Since those back-to-back setbacks, Maverick has gone 6-1 with her only loss being a June 2023 decision to Jasmine Jasudavicius. She is 4-0 in her most recent bouts, and coming off a unanimous decision win over Jamey-Lyn Horth in December. Maverick is ranked 11th in the UFC's 125-pound division. When the betting opened for the UFC Atlanta co-main event, Namajunas was a -275 favorite over Maverick, who came in at +220. Those odds have shifted slightly. Today, Namajunas is listed at -250, while Maverick is the +200 betting underdog. Bettors have placed most of their wagers on Maverick (75 percent), while most of the money is on Namajunas (85 percent). The betting pick is for Namajunas to beat Maverick by decision. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 13: Andre Petroski poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in on ... More June 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC) Here we have a middleweight matchup between Edmen Shahbazyan and Andre Petroski. When the betting odds opened Shahbazyan was the -200 favorite over the +165 Petroski. The odds have shifted slightly, yet Shahbazyan remains the favorite at -185, while Petroski is the +150 betting underdog. Petroski is the favorite for the bettors, who have placed 91 percent of the bets on him, while throwing 80 percent of the money his way. The betting pick is to go with the underdog, Petroski via decision. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 13: Raoni Barcelos of Brazil poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night ... More weigh-in on June 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC) Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt fights for the first time in over a year when he meets Raoni Barcelos in a 135-pound bout in Atlanta. When the betting opened for this one, Garbrandt was a +125 underdog to Barcelos's -150. Today, Barcelos is a -200 favorite, while Garbrandt is the +165 betting underdog. Garbrandt has a slight edge in bets at 52 percent, but the overwhelming money is on Barcelos at 86 percent. Garbrandt is the better striker, and he could ride that striking to a win here, but if he gets reckless and chases the knockout, Barcelos could use his wrestling to grind out a win. The pick is Barcelos via decision. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 13: Mansur Abdul-Malik poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night ... More weigh-in on June 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC) The first middleweight bout on Saturday's card is Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Cody Brundage. Abdul-Malik was a -55o betting favorite over the +400 Brundage when odds opened. Today, Abdul-Malik is listed as a prohibitive -800 over the +550 Brundage. With the lopsided odds, Brundage has picked up 70 percent of the bets. However, bettors seem inclined to wager bigger on Abdul-Malik, who has 78 percent of the handle. The pick is for Abdul-Malik to use his striking to score a knockout of Brundage. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 13: Oumar Sy of France poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night ... More weigh-in on June 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC) Opening the UFC Atlanta card is a light heavyweight matchup between Alonzo Menifield and Oumar Sy. The opening odds for this contest saw Sy as a -500 favorite over Menifield, who was +260. Sy has moved to a -700 favorite, while Menifield has dropped to a +500 underdog. Most of the bets are on Menifield (59 percent), while most of the wagers are on Sy (80 percent). The betting pick is for Sy to win via knockout. *Odds via BetMGM Buckley to beat Usman via KO/TKO: +140 Namajunas to beat Maverick via decision: -185 Maverick to beat Namajunas via decision: +300 Shahbazyan to beat Petroski via KO/TKO in Round 1: +245 Petroski to beat Shahbazyan via decision: +375 Garbrandt to beat Barcelos via KO/TKO: +285 Abdul-Malik to beat Brundage by KO/TKO: -325 Abdul-Malik to beat Brundage in Round 1: -105 Abdul-Malik to beat Brundage in Round 2: +275 Menifield to beat Sy: +500 *All bets and odds via BetOnline We will have more on the UFC Atlanta fight card, inclduing ight night results and reactions on Saturday.
