Latest news with #GeorgeMikanTrophy
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement 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 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. Advertisement "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. Advertisement 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
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels named NBA's Most Improved Player for 2024-2025 season
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, who posted the NBA's highest steals average in 34 seasons, was named the league's 2024-25 Most Improved Player on Wednesday and rewarded with the George Mikan Trophy. The 22-year-old Australia native received 44 of a possible 100 first-place votes and was listed on 84 ballots by the global media panel while totalling 332 points. Los Angeles Clippers big man Ivica Zubac finished a distant second (186 points) while Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham took the third (122) spot. Daniels, a key part of the offseason trade with the New Orleans Pelicans that brought four players and two first-round draft picks to the Hawks in exchange for Dejounte Murray, blossomed in his first year as a starter. The 6-foot-8, 200-pound guard averaged 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.0 steals in 33.8 minutes per game over 76 regular-season games -- a marked improvement over his 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals in 22.3 minutes per game for the Pelicans in 2023-24. Daniels also became the fifth player in NBA history to average at least 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals for a full season, joining Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Michael Ray Richardson and Alvin Robertson. READ | Spurs' Stephon Castle wins NBA Rookie Of The Year Award No NBA player had averaged three steals since Robertson posted 3.0 per game for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1990-91. Daniels, who also blocked 0.7 shots per game, finished second to Cleveland's Evan Mobley in the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year balloting. The 28-year-old Zubac averaged 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds in his fifth season as the Clippers' starting center -- a healthy jump from last season's 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Cunningham, the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, earned his first All-Star Game nod for averaging 26.1 points, 9.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game while leading the Pistons to their first playoff berth since 2019. The 23-year-old point guard produced 22.7 points, 7.5 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game the season before. Related Topics NBA / Atlanta Hawks
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australia's Dyson Daniels scoops major award for NBA's most improved player
Dyson Daniels has won the NBA's most improved player award with an average of 14.1 points and three steals per game this season. Dyson Daniels has won the NBA's most improved player award with an average of 14.1 points and three steals per game this season. Photograph: KevinAustralian basketballer Dyson Daniels has declared he can still get better after winning the NBA's prestigious Most Improved Player award. The George Mikan Trophy is awarded for the player who shows the most progress between seasons. Daniels was selected eighth in the 2022 draft, but started only 25 games in two seasons for New Orleans before he was traded to Atlanta last year. He was in the Hawks' starting five for all 76 appearances this season. Advertisement Related: NBA playoffs: Haliburton's 'disrespectful' father sparks fracas as Pacers seal Bucks' fate 'I came into the third year wanting to really put my foot down and go out there and show what I could do,' Daniels told the NBA on TNT broadcast. 'I think it was just a small step in the right direction this year, and I feel like I've got a lot more in me.' Playing alongside all-star teammate Trae Young, Daniels made the most of the opportunity with Atlanta. He averaged 14.1 points per game, an increase of 8.3 on the previous season, and three steals per contest, the highest figure in the league. The man given the nickname 'The Great Barrier Thief' recorded 229 takeaways in all, the most in a season in almost 30 years. He was also among three nominees for the league's defensive player of the year award, won by Cleveland's Evan Mobley. Advertisement The 22-year-old said landing at Atlanta gave him a fresh start. 'It's just coming in with the right mindset, working hard in the offseason, having a good Olympic campaign, and going out there and being aggressive, being myself, and not caring about making mistakes,' he said. 'The main theme this year is I got trust in my coaches, trust in my teammates, and I was able to go out there and just be myself.' Daniels earned first place votes from 44 of the award's 100 voters, delivering him 332 total points based on a 5-3-1 voting system. Los Angeles Clippers' centre Ivica Zubac finished second with 186 points, and Detroit guard Cade Cunningham attracted 122. Daniels' Australian backcourt teammate, Chicago's Josh Giddey, finished 10th in voting. The executive who traded Daniels from New Orleans last year, David Griffin, said in a visit to Australia in March the deal was 'the right thing to do at the right time'. Advertisement The trade included Daniels, two first-round draft picks and other players in exchange for guard Dejounte Murray. Murray ruptured his Achilles tendon in January and Griffin was fired as the Pelicans' executive vice president two weeks ago. Daniels helped the Hawks finish ninth in the NBA's Eastern Conference, but the team lost a painful play-in match against Miami in overtime. The Australian, who grew grew up in Bendigo – a hotbed of Australian basketball talent – has returned to stay with his family in Melbourne following the conclusion of the season. His older brother Kai plays VFL with Richmond, and his younger brother Dash is due to play in the NBL with Melbourne United later this year as part of the Next Star programme.
The Guardian
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Australia's Dyson Daniels scoops major award for NBA's most improved player
Australian basketballer Dyson Daniels has declared he can still get better after winning the NBA's prestigious Most Improved Player award. The George Mikan Trophy is awarded for the player who shows the most progress between seasons. Daniels was selected eighth in the 2022 draft, but started only 25 games in two seasons for New Orleans before he was traded to Atlanta last year. He was in the Hawks' starting five for all 76 appearances this season. 'I came into the third year wanting to really put my foot down and go out there and show what I could do,' Daniels told the NBA on TNT broadcast. 'I think it was just a small step in the right direction this year, and I feel like I've got a lot more in me.' Playing alongside all-star teammate Trae Young, Daniels made the most of the opportunity with Atlanta. He averaged 14.1 points per game, an increase of 8.3 on the previous season, and three steals per contest, the highest figure in the league. The man given the nickname 'The Great Barrier Thief' recorded 229 takeaways in all, the most in a season in almost 30 years. He was also among three nominees for the league's defensive player of the year award, won by Cleveland's Evan Mobley. The 22-year-old said landing at Atlanta gave him a fresh start. 'It's just coming in with the right mindset, working hard in the offseason, having a good Olympic campaign, and going out there and being aggressive, being myself, and not caring about making mistakes,' he said. 'The main theme this year is I got trust in my coaches, trust in my teammates, and I was able to go out there and just be myself.' Daniels earned first place votes from 44 of the award's 100 voters, delivering him 332 total points based on a 5-3-1 voting system. Los Angeles Clippers' centre Ivica Zubac finished second with 186 points, and Detroit guard Cade Cunningham attracted 122. Daniels' Australian backcourt teammate, Chicago's Josh Giddey, finished 10th in voting. Dyson Daniels' dad Ricky crashed the end of his #KiaMIP interview 😆🎉 The executive who traded Daniels from New Orleans last year, David Griffin, said in a visit to Australia in March the deal was 'the right thing to do at the right time'. The trade included Daniels, two first-round draft picks and other players in exchange for guard Dejounte Murray. Murray ruptured his Achilles tendon in January and Griffin was fired as the Pelicans' executive vice president two weeks ago. Daniels helped the Hawks finish ninth in the NBA's Eastern Conference, but the team lost a painful play-in match against Miami in overtime. The Australian, who grew grew up in Bendigo – a hotbed of Australian basketball talent – has returned to stay with his family in Melbourne following the conclusion of the season. His older brother Kai plays VFL with Richmond, and his younger brother Dash is due to play in the NBL with Melbourne United later this year as part of the Next Star programme.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aussie star wins prestigious NBA award
Dyson Daniels has capped off a stunning season with the Atlanta Hawks by becoming the first Australian to win the George Mikan Trophy as the NBA's most improved player for the 2024-25 campaign. The man dubbed the 'Great Barrier Thief' was one of three finalists for defensive player of the year but was edged out by Cleveland's Evan Mobley. However, he wouldn't be denied a second time with Daniels claiming 44 first place votes from the 100 judges to steamroll the most improved award, with the Atlanta ace finishing on 332 votes, well clear of Ivica Zubac of the Clippers (186 votes). In his third NBA season, Daniels thrived in his new environment to lead the NBA in steals per game and total steals, while he averaged the most steals per game since the 1990-91 season. He was twice named Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month this season because of his dominance without the ball, with the guard also racking up career highs in points (14.1 per game), rebounds (5.9) and assists (4.4). Daniels joins some of the game's superstars to have won the award, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant and Jimmy Butler just some of the previous winners. His Hawks lost in overtime in the play-in to the Heat who were subsequently swept by the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs, with Daniels posting a double-double in the heartbreaking defeat.
