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.

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels drives to the hoop.Credit: AP

The 22-year-old also came close to snatching the NBA defensive player of the year award when he finished second to Cleveland big man Evan Mobley.

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.

His impressive gains as a scorer, defender, rebounder and play-maker helped him claim the top spot in the voting. 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.

What is the award?

The George Mikan Trophy for most improved player rewards the NBA player judged to have made the biggest improvement during a season.

It is voted on by a panel of 100 media members from around the world. A number of future NBA stars have won the award in the past including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tracy McGrady, Jimmy Butler, Jermaine O’Neal and Kevin Love.

Why it matters

No Australian has won an open NBA award before now, and it further shows the growing impact of Australians in the NBA. Ben Simmons won the rookie of the year award in 2017-2018 and was the first Aussie to be named an All-Star.

What they said

Australian basketball great Chris Anstey said those close to Daniels saw in the lead-up to Paris 2024 that he was ready for fire this season.

“I think the writing was on the wall when he was selected for Paris 2024 ahead of Matisse Thybulle,” Anstey said. “He’s very different to other guys in that he built his game at the defensive end and that’s allowed him to grow his offensive game.

Atlanta Hawks star Dyson Daniels.Credit: Getty Images

“As the careers of Joe Ingles and Patty Mills get closer to the end, outside of Josh Giddey, there was a concern we didn’t have many guys playing significant roles, but I think Dyson has demonstrated he’ll play a significant role for any team he’s on for the next number of the years.”

The nickname

As Daniels won admirers this season, his teammate Larry Nance started calling him “the Great Barrier Thief”.

It took a few months, but the nickname stuck – even though Daniels is from Bendigo in central Victoria, far from the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.

“It has stuck I think,” Daniels told SEN on Thursday.

“I have to explain it to every American as they have no idea what the Great Barrier Reef is so I spend half my day explaining it to people over there.

“I didn’t give it to myself, my teammate Larry Nance gave it to me but I’ll need to work something up for people to read so I don’t have to explain it.”

The money

Daniels’ success has come at the ideal time as his rookie deal finishes at the end of the next NBA season, and he will likely seek a long-term deal which could see his pay rise from around $US7.7 million to $US20-30m per year.

“I like the city and I want to be here but the NBA is funny – one day they love you, the next day you are gone,” Daniels said. “Hopefully they love me enough to keep me.”

He scored a new four-year shoe deal with adidas in March where he joins other rising Australian stars such as sprinter Gout Gout, and has made some moves into the fashion business, launching his own streetwear brand Vouseti.

The family

His father Ricky was born in the US and came to Australia as an import in the Victorian Basketball League in the mid-1990s before moving to the Bendigo Braves, where his number was retired, and he settled down with partner Brikitta; they have three sons.

Dyson Daniels’ nickname is the “Great Barrier Thief”.Credit: Getty Images

Youngest son Dash is also touted as a potential NBA draft pick in 2026 and has signed a Next Stars deal with NBL club Melbourne United for next season.

Oldest son Kai is playing Australian rules with Richmond’s VFL side after impressing scouts with his performances at Golden Square in the Bendigo Football League.

What’s next

Daniels played in the Boomers’ campaigns at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and Paris 2024, and he will be a key player at the 2027 World Cup and LA 2028, should the Boomers qualify.

Anstey said Daniels needed to keep improving his three-point shooting and finding more ways to contribute on offence.

“He’s big enough and athletic enough to get on the rim and if he can knock down those threes he will go to another level again,” Anstey said.

On the horizon

The NBA draft is in June and there could be a record number of Australians drafted to join Daniels in the NBA.

US College national championship winning big man Alex Condon from the Florida Gators looks a strong chance to be a first-round pick, while NBL Next Star Alex Toohey and Duke University guard Tyrese Proctor will also push to be in the first round where draftees receive guaranteed contracts.

NBL Next Star Rocco Zikarsky, Perth guard Ben Henshall and Illawarra big man Lachlan Olbrich have also declared for the draft.

With AP

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