NBA world melts over emerging Aussie star Dyson Daniels

A young Aussie has drawn a massive comparison and keeps setting stat sheets alight in a stunning start with his new team.

Buckle up Australian hoops fans, we’ve got a genuine star emerging in the world’s best basketball league.

And people are starting to notice.

When Dyson Daniels was traded from New Orleans to Atlanta on July 6 this year, most attention focused on the player going in the other direction, former All-Star Dejounte Murray.

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The fact the Pelicans threw in forwards EJ Liddell and Larry Nance Jr, centre Cody Zeller and two coveted first-round draft picks to the deal — a huge haul — showed how desperate they were to get their hands on Murray.

Yet just a month into the new NBA season, Hawks fans are starting to believe they got an all-time steal, excuse the pun, in the 21-year-old Victorian.

Through 10 games for his new club, Daniels is averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 boards, almost three assists and an eye-popping 3.6 steals per contest.

Dyson Daniels had a career day against the Celtics. (Photo by China Wong/Getty Images)

They’re all easily career-high stats and his steals mark so far is easily the best in the NBA.

As in, the entire league.

Daylight is currently coming second, followed by Wizard Jordan Poole (2.3 per game), OKC’s Jalen Williams (1.9) and Houston’s Tari Eason (1.9).

On Wednesday (AEDT), Daniels took advantage of superstar Trae Young’s absence from the Atlanta rotation and proved the most impactful Hawk on the court in a match-up with reigning champions Boston.

Daniels finished with a career-high 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting, seven assists, three boards and six more steals in an upset 117-116 victory over the Celtics.

According to NBA stats account Stat Mamba, Daniels’ 36 total steals through 10 games is the second most with a new team in league history, behind only Alvin Robertson’s 37 with Milwaukee in 1989.

Third on that list is Hall of Famer and all-time defender Gary “the glove” Payton on 32.

Daniels took the fight to the defending champions on Wednesday. (Photo by China Wong/Getty Images)

Social media was falling over itself to pay tribute to the emerging Aussie, who played a key role for the Boomers at his first Olympic Games in Paris.

Broadcaster David Lithgow wrote on X: “Dyson Daniels is going to a earn a 100 million dollar-plus contract.

“He just waltzed into Boston Garden without Trae Young and dropped 28 points, 7 assists and 6 steals.

“Upset of the season on the defending champions. Clearly the most improved basketballer in the game.”

NBA reporter Keith Smith tweeted: “Dyson Daniels is a completely different guy this year.

“I’d be curious to know if the Olympics really helped him grow his confidence. He’s playing so well. Great to see.”

Podcaster Brad Rowland offered: “Cannot be overstated how absurd Dyson Daniels has been in this basketball game.”

Topping it off, Trae Young himself tweeted: “DYSON MF DANIELS,” with some fire emojis.

Fans were having a field day, with one writing: “I’m actually struggling to think of another guy in the NBA who plays defense like him, he’s unreal.”

Daniels played a key role for the Boomers at the Paris Olympics. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Another stated: “He was traded from the pels who never really developed him and wanted him to be just a 3 and D guy. Hawks saw more than that – he’s flourishing.”

He was called a “future most improved player”, compared to a “prime Kawhi Leonard” and even this take: “I’ve seen enough. Build the statue.”

That might be slightly premature, but Aussie hoops fans are crying out for another genuine impact player in the NBA.

Ben Simmons remains the country’s only All-Star, but he appears highly unlikely to add to his three appearances, the last coming in 2021.

At this early stage of the season, Daniels appears headed for a spot on one of the All-NBA Defensive teams and from there, who knows?

Atlanta observers certainly feel comfortable they got the better of the Murray trade.

Hawks podcast host Zach Langley tweeted: “We seriously got this dude for Dejounte Murray?

“I’m SPEECHLESS. Dyson Daniels is the best guard defender I’ve ever witnessed.”

One fan replied: “I know it’s been 10 games but when do we start DPOY talks?

“Dude is a menace.”

Daniels capitalised on the absence of high volume shooter Trae Young. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images via AFP)

The Hawks commentators for the Boston game were also beside themselves watching Daniels’ efforts unfold.

They showed a stat that Atlanta (200) had the third most deflections in the NBA, behind only the Thunder (256) and Warriors (212), and stated the key reason behind it.

“Dyson Daniels continues to get it done tonight at both ends of the floor,” veteran Hawks commentator Bob Rathbun said.

His co-commentator Brian Oliver added: “You know what you get from him with defensive intensity. He’s a ball-hawk, he’s going to put a lot of pressure on and try to make things a little chaotic for you.

“Outside of that he’s done a good job of providing offence, getting down hill and putting pressure on the rim.”

Daniels and a key defensive stat. Photo: NBA League Pass

When Daniels drove and got an and-one bucket over Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum, Oliver added: “That’s one of the things with Dyson Daniels, I love the fact that his level of physicality doesn’t only lend to the defensive end.

“That last drive, see him turn the corner, gets Jayson Tatum on him, give him a bit of a nudge, absorb the contact for the finish.”

Rathbun later called it another “defensive clinic” and “the best game of his career no doubt with these circumstances”.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder was also asked after the game how he balanced his reduced rotation and he immediately referenced the young Aussie.

“One of the biggest things is keeping match-ups for us with Dyson,” Snyder said.

“He’s that impactful defensively.”

The Hawks, who have a 5-7 win-loss record, are next in action against Washington on Saturday (AEDT).

Originally published as NBA world melts over emerging Aussie star Dyson Daniels