Latest news with #GreatBarrierThief
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
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dyson Daniels wins NBA's Most Improved Player award after move to Atlanta Hawks
Dyson Daniels wins NBA's Most Improved Player award after move to Atlanta Hawks Show Caption Hide Caption Thunder's preferred matchup: Clippers or Nuggets? For The Hoops crew discuss whether the Thunder would prefer to face the Clippers or Nuggets in the second round of the NBA playoffs The "Great Barrier Thief" has swiped the NBA's 2024-25 Most Improved Player award. Atlanta Hawks guard and Australia native Dyson Daniels was named the league's Most Improved Player during Wednesday's "Inside the NBA" broadcast on TNT. Daniels got 44 first-place votes out of 100 ballots and a total of 332 points. Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers finished second with 23 first-place votes and 186 total points. Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons finished third with 15 first-place votes and 122 total points. Daniels averaged a career high in points (14.1), rebounds (5.9), assists (4.4), steals (3.0), field goal percentage (49.3%) and 3-point percentage (34%) in 76 starts this season. He had just 27 starts in the first two years of his career in New Orleans. Daniels nearly tripled his points per game average from 5.8 in the 2023-24 season while playing for the Pelicans to 14.1 points in the 2024-25 season, his first year in Atlanta. "This is my third year in the league, with my first two being in New Orleans. I felt like I kind of went in there and wasn't myself. I feel like I took a backseat role," said Daniels, who virtually joined the TNT broadcast from Australia, where it's early in the morning. "I came into this third year wanting to really put my foot down and show what I can do. I think it's just a small step in the right direction this year and I feel like I got a lot more in me." NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Stephon Castle wins back-to-back awards for San Antonio Spurs Daniels, 22, led the NBA in steals per game (3), total deflections (443) and in the combo category of steals plus blocks plus charges drawn (297). He's the first player to average 3.0 steals since Alvi Robertson in 1990-91. Daniels is only the second Hawks player to win the Most Improved Player honor. Alan Henderson was the first in 1998. Among Daniels' achievements: First player since Scottie Pippen (1994-95) to record at least 200 steals and at least 50 blocks and just one of seven players to accomplish that in the past 50 seasons. First guard to lead the league in steals plus blocks since Michael Jordan in 1987-88. The 22-year-old Daniels, who was acquired by the Hawks from New Orleans in a July trade, is the youngest player to record 200 or more steals in a season since 1973-74, when steals became an official NBA statistic. Just three players have recorded 200 or more steals since 2000: Allen Iverson, Chris Paul and Daniels. Collected 79 loose balls in 2024-25, good for No. 2. Who has won NBA's Most Improved Player award? Here's every player that has won the Most Improved Player honor since the first award was given during the 1985-86 NBA season: 2024-25 — Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks 2023-24 — Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (Voting) 2022-23 — Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz 2021-22 — Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies 2020-21 — Julius Randle, New York Knicks 2019-20 — Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans 2018-19 — Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors 2017-18 — Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers 2016-17 — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks 2015-16 — C.J. McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers 2014-15 — Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls 2013-14 — Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns 2012-13 — Paul George, Indiana Pacers 2011-12 — Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic 2010-11 — Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves 2009-10 — Aaron Brooks, Houston Rockets 2008-09 — Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers 2007-08 — Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic 2006-07 — Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors 2005-06 — Boris Diaw, Phoenix Suns 2004-05 — Bobby Simmons, LA Clippers 2003-04 — Zach Randolph, Portland Trail Blazers 2002-03 — Gilbert Arenas, Golden State Warriors 2001-02 — Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers 2000-01 — Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic 1999-00 — Jalen Rose, Indiana Pacers 1998-99 — Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic 1997-98 — Alan Henderson, Atlanta Hawks 1996-97 — Isaac Austin, Miami Heat 1995-96 — Gheorghe Muresan, Washington Bullets 1994-95 — Dana Barros, Philadelphia 76ers 1993-94 — Don MacLean, Washington Bullets 1992-93 — Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Denver Nuggets 1991-92 — Pervis Ellison, Washington Bullets 1990-91 — Scott Skiles, Orlando Magic 1989-90 — Rony Seikaly, Miami Heat 1988-89 — Kevin Johnson, Phoenix Suns 1987-88 — Kevin Duckworth, Portland Trail Blazers 1986-87 — Dale Ellis, Seattle SuperSonics 1985-86 — Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Nikola Jokic, Dyson Daniels among the fantasy MVPs
While some fantasy managers compete in leagues that run through the end of the NBA's regular season, most were completed by the end of Sunday's games. Congratulations to those who won their leagues and the money (and bragging rights) that comes with it. Those who did not will reflect on what went wrong and how they can avoid a similar fate next season. With the fantasy season effectively over, now is a good time for the Rotoworld fantasy basketball staff to have a few roundtable discussions. NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at New Orleans Pelicans Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Kyle Kuzma, Joel Embiid among fantasy disappointments Advertisement The Rotoworld basketball staff picks their fantasy duds for the 2024-25 season. The final installment focuses on the most valuable players in fantasy basketball. For some, it's the player who led the way in the rankings, while others prefer to pick a player who proved far more valuable than expected during the preseason. Nick Shlain, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew made their choices, which are (mostly) unlikely to align with the winner of this season's official Most Valuable Player award. Who is your Most Valuable Player in fantasy basketball this season? Nick Shlain: The top three players that separated themselves from the pack this season were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama. With Wembanyama going down with injury at the All-Star break, that left SGA and Jokic. While I've been partial to Jokic in the past and believe his skillset is more valuable in fantasy in a vacuum, injuries cost him some games in the second half. Entering play Friday, Jokic played 68 games to Gilgeous-Alexander's 76. In my opinion, that's significant enough to tip the scales for SGA, who had an incredible season that will likely result in his first MVP award. Advertisement Noah Rubin: You could look at this award a few different ways. Sure, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were technically the "most valuable" players in fantasy basketball. However, relative to ADP, few players were as valuable as "The Great Barrier Thief." Dyson Daniels was also my pick for the most improved player in fantasy basketball, and I had to limit myself from giving him more awards. He's on pace to play in 77 games, which is a huge win in today's NBA. Of course, the massive lead in steals and the improvements across the board have made Daniels a fantasy superstar. He won't win this award again since there is no way he goes this late in drafts again. The season-long numbers are already fantastic, but he's also made improvements throughout the year, as he has averaged more points, rebounds and assists per game over the past two months than he has for the season while also improving his field goal percentage. The No. 8 overall pick in 2022, Daniels has soared in his first season in Atlanta and helped many fantasy managers bring home rings. NBA: Memphis Grizzlies at Detroit Pistons Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Zach Edey, Stephon Castle among the top fantasy rookies The Rotoworld fantasy basketball staff makes its picks for the top fantasy rookies. Advertisement Raphielle Johnson: While most of the players at the top of the rankings were expected to be there before the season began, I think the more valuable fantasy assets are those who exceed preseason expectations by a significant margin. Dyson Daniels certainly qualifies, but I'll take Josh Hart here. He's set the Knicks franchise record for triple-doubles in a season, and the versatile wing has provided top-30 per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Between the positional eligibility, production and availability, Hart has been one of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball this season. And unlike Daniels, whose Yahoo! ADP will likely skyrocket in the fall, Hart may still be able to provide elite value relative to where he's drafted. Unless the Knicks were to move one of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges during the offseason, Hart will again be fifth in the offensive pecking order next season. That could keep his ADP within "reason," setting up Hart to remain a high-value option in fantasy leagues. Zak Hanshew: It feels cheap to name Nikola Jokic as the fantasy MVP, but there's no denying his greatness. Jokic was drafted as a top-three pick and delivered in a way no one expected. He set personal bests in points, assists and steals, delivered stat lines that have never been seen and passed Wilt Chamberlain for most triple-doubles in a single season by a center. Joker is on pace to become only the third player to average a triple-double for a season and the first center to accomplish that feat. If we're getting down to the nitty-gritty, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be slightly ahead of him in per-game fantasy ranking, but SGA wasn't a week-winner nearly as much as Jokic. Jokic has him handily in rebounds and assists, sits only slightly behind him in scoring and surprisingly holds the edge in steals. No other player in the Association put up numbers quite as gaudy as Joker, who posted 20-assist and 20-rebound games with regularity and just last week notched a 60-point triple-double. If you drafted Jokic, there's a good chance he single-handedly led you to victory multiple times throughout the 2024-25 campaign, and no other player can boast that level of impact.
NBC Sports
11-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Nikola Jokic, Dyson Daniels among the fantasy MVPs
While some fantasy managers compete in leagues that run through the end of the NBA's regular season, most were completed by the end of Sunday's games. Congratulations to those who won their leagues and the money (and bragging rights) that comes with it. Those who did not will reflect on what went wrong and how they can avoid a similar fate next season. With the fantasy season effectively over, now is a good time for the Rotoworld fantasy basketball staff to have a few roundtable discussions. Rotoworld Staff, The final installment focuses on the most valuable players in fantasy basketball. For some, it's the player who led the way in the rankings, while others prefer to pick a player who proved far more valuable than expected during the preseason. Nick Shlain, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew made their choices, which are (mostly) unlikely to align with the winner of this season's official Most Valuable Player award. Who is your Most Valuable Player in fantasy basketball this season? Nick Shlain: The top three players that separated themselves from the pack this season were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama. With Wembanyama going down with injury at the All-Star break, that left SGA and Jokic. While I've been partial to Jokic in the past and believe his skillset is more valuable in fantasy in a vacuum, injuries cost him some games in the second half. Entering play Friday, Jokic played 68 games to Gilgeous-Alexander's 76. In my opinion, that's significant enough to tip the scales for SGA, who had an incredible season that will likely result in his first MVP award. Noah Rubin: You could look at this award a few different ways. Sure, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were technically the 'most valuable' players in fantasy basketball. However, relative to ADP, few players were as valuable as 'The Great Barrier Thief.' Dyson Daniels was also my pick for the most improved player in fantasy basketball, and I had to limit myself from giving him more awards. He's on pace to play in 77 games, which is a huge win in today's NBA. Of course, the massive lead in steals and the improvements across the board have made Daniels a fantasy superstar. He won't win this award again since there is no way he goes this late in drafts again. The season-long numbers are already fantastic, but he's also made improvements throughout the year, as he has averaged more points, rebounds and assists per game over the past two months than he has for the season while also improving his field goal percentage. The No. 8 overall pick in 2022, Daniels has soared in his first season in Atlanta and helped many fantasy managers bring home rings. Raphielle Johnson: While most of the players at the top of the rankings were expected to be there before the season began, I think the more valuable fantasy assets are those who exceed preseason expectations by a significant margin. Dyson Daniels certainly qualifies, but I'll take Josh Hart here. He's set the Knicks franchise record for triple-doubles in a season, and the versatile wing has provided top-30 per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Between the positional eligibility, production and availability, Hart has been one of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball this season. And unlike Daniels, whose Yahoo! ADP will likely skyrocket in the fall, Hart may still be able to provide elite value relative to where he's drafted. Unless the Knicks were to move one of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby or Mikal Bridges during the offseason, Hart will again be fifth in the offensive pecking order next season. That could keep his ADP within 'reason,' setting up Hart to remain a high-value option in fantasy leagues. Zak Hanshew: It feels cheap to name Nikola Jokic as the fantasy MVP, but there's no denying his greatness. Jokic was drafted as a top-three pick and delivered in a way no one expected. He set personal bests in points, assists and steals, delivered stat lines that have never been seen and passed Wilt Chamberlain for most triple-doubles in a single season by a center. Joker is on pace to become only the third player to average a triple-double for a season and the first center to accomplish that feat. If we're getting down to the nitty-gritty, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be slightly ahead of him in per-game fantasy ranking, but SGA wasn't a week-winner nearly as much as Jokic. Jokic has him handily in rebounds and assists, sits only slightly behind him in scoring and surprisingly holds the edge in steals. No other player in the Association put up numbers quite as gaudy as Joker, who posted 20-assist and 20-rebound games with regularity and just last week notched a 60-point triple-double. If you drafted Jokic, there's a good chance he single-handedly led you to victory multiple times throughout the 2024-25 campaign, and no other player can boast that level of impact.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Dyson Daniels, Josh Hart most improved players
While some fantasy managers compete in leagues that run through the end of the NBA's regular season, most were completed by the end of Sunday's games. Congratulations to those who won their leagues and the money (and bragging rights) that comes with it. Those who did not will reflect on what went wrong and how they can avoid a similar fate next season. NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at New Orleans Pelicans Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Kyle Kuzma, Joel Embiid among fantasy disappointments Advertisement The Rotoworld basketball staff picks their fantasy duds for the 2024-25 season. With the fantasy season effectively over, now is a good time for the Rotoworld fantasy basketball staff to have a few roundtable discussions. Wednesday's question: Who was the most improved player in fantasy basketball this season? Increased opportunity certainly helps, but it's still up to the player to produce the results. Nick Shlain, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew made their picks, with three picking the same player. Who was the most improved player in fantasy basketball this season? Nick Shlain: In 2023-204, Josh Hart was the 77th-ranked player in total game value on Basketball Monster. With only a few games left in the 2024-25 regular season, Hart ranks 10th. That's quite a come-up for the heart and soul of the New York Knicks. The 30-year-old small forward set the franchise record for most triple-doubles in a season with nine, breaking Walt Frazier's mark of eight in the 1968-69 season. No one on the Knicks seems to thrive more on coach Tom Thibedeau's strategy of playing his starters heavy minutes all season long. Now in his third year with the Knicks, Hart was better than ever despite another heavy workload. Advertisement Noah Rubin: Hopping from outside the top 150 in nine-cat scoring to providing early-second round value doesn't happen often. Dyson Daniels was one of my favorite late-round targets this season, and he has been way better than I ever imagined. He has a significant lead over the rest of the league regarding steals, but he has also made real strides on the offensive end as both a scorer and playmaker. The change of scenery and increase in opportunity made Daniels bound for a statistical leap, but this type of leap was special and wasn't just a result of his situation improving. He has solidified his status as a valuable commodity in dynasty leagues and should be drafted much earlier in drafts next season. NBA: Utah Jazz at Atlanta Hawks Fantasy Basketball End of Season Roundtable: Dyson Daniels, Austin Reaves among biggest fantasy surprises The Rotoworld basketball crew picked their biggest fantasy surprises for the 2024-25 season. Advertisement Raphielle Johnson: My pick would be Atlanta's Dyson Daniels. While the expectation was that his being traded to Atlanta would mean additional opportunities for the young guard, few people expected him to be this productive. The "Great Barrier Thief" has cemented himself as one of the best defenders in the NBA regardless of position, and he's also been an improved offensive player. You don't threaten first-round value in nine-cat formats by only contributing on one end of the floor. Daniels may not be a first-round pick in drafts next fall, but projecting him as a top-25 player would not be extreme. Zak Hanshew: I love me some Christian Braun, but this must go to Dyson Daniels. Daniels has put up such eye-popping steal numbers that he's elevated his fantasy ranking tremendously through that category alone. He's ranked in the top 15 in per-game fantasy hoops value thanks mainly to his clear advantage in that defensive category, but Daniels has been no slouch as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator. Since returning from the All-Star break, he's averaged 15.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 dimes. Daniels has shown that he can do it all on both ends of the court, and if he continues to develop on offense, he'll be an early-round fantasy pick for years to come.
