Australia's ‘Great Barrier Thief' makes history with major NBA award
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.
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.
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.
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The Advertiser
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Smith has no interest to coach at club level, but the 56-Test hooker said this week that the chance to work with the Kangaroos around his commentary commitments was appealing. Fittler, meanwhile, hasn't had a coaching position since parting ways with NSW following the 2023 State of Origin series. The ex-Australian playmaker currently works at the NRL and has received the backing of Phil Gould to lead the Kangaroos' Ashes tour. Meninga has helped restore the Australian team to the top of the international game, while the rise of Tonga and Samoa has left the Kangaroos increasingly fighting for players. "The Kangaroos job is a full-time job, it's not just coaching the team, there's a couple of other commitments," Meninga said. "From a transition point of view I'll hopefully be a part of all that. "I have loved the opportunity to coach the Australian team and build the international program. "I'm satisfied with the job I did with the national program, I'm really comfortable with the fact that I'm moving on." The NRL will maintain its stance of prohibiting the Kangaroos coach from having club ties, placing Brad Fittler and Cameron Smith at the front of the queue to replace Mal Meninga. After nine years and two World Cup titles, Meninga has walked away from the Australian Test side to become head coach of the Perth Bears ahead of their inaugural NRL season in 2027. Meninga has been one of the most vocal supporters of the international game's growth and leaves the role with an 89 per cent win rate from 28 Tests. His exit to take the Perth gig leaves the Kangaroos without a coach just five months out from the first Ashes series in more than two decades. Australia will play England in a three-Test series at Wembley, Headingley and Everton's new home ground in November. There has been speculation that South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett would put his hand up to lead Australia. But NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said in Sydney on Friday that the ARL Commission wanted the national team coach to be at arm's length from club football. "We are all very excited for the end-of-season tour, it's been a long time in waiting, and of course we have a World Cup next year. "Today was about announcing Mal as the Perth Bears coach, and now with that secured the commission will turn its attention to the right candidate for the Kangaroos." Smith has no interest to coach at club level, but the 56-Test hooker said this week that the chance to work with the Kangaroos around his commentary commitments was appealing. Fittler, meanwhile, hasn't had a coaching position since parting ways with NSW following the 2023 State of Origin series. The ex-Australian playmaker currently works at the NRL and has received the backing of Phil Gould to lead the Kangaroos' Ashes tour. Meninga has helped restore the Australian team to the top of the international game, while the rise of Tonga and Samoa has left the Kangaroos increasingly fighting for players. "The Kangaroos job is a full-time job, it's not just coaching the team, there's a couple of other commitments," Meninga said. "From a transition point of view I'll hopefully be a part of all that. "I have loved the opportunity to coach the Australian team and build the international program. "I'm satisfied with the job I did with the national program, I'm really comfortable with the fact that I'm moving on."
