Another Daniels to NBA: Dyson reveals message for Dash, Josh Giddey opens up on that half court moment

Dyson Daniels and Josh Giddey have taken their friendship to the next level: business partners. The Aussie stars open up on their mega moments - including THAT half court shot - and Dyson reveals his message for Dash.

If you thought the Daniels family group chat would feature competitive banter of who will be the higher NBA draft pick, then think again.

Atlanta Hawks star Dyson Daniels, aka the ‘Great Barrier Thief’, was selected with the eighth pick at the 2022 Draft and younger brother Dash is projected to go within the same realm next year.

The first Australian to be awarded the NBA’s Most Improved Player, Dyson says despite the comparisons, his hope for his teenage brother is to “create his own path” without the pressure.

Dash, an NBL Next Star, is set to line up for Melbourne United this year for his first pro season.

“I’m super happy for him, I give him tips whenever I can but I want him to forge his own path,” Dyson told Code Sports.

“I’m just happy with how he’s going, he’s still super young and he’s got another year that he’s got to focus on.

“I want him to do his own thing, not put too much pressure on him.”

Dyson Daniels was the NBA’s Most Improved last season. Picture: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

Dash (L) is projected a high NBA 2026 Draft pick.

But before looking ahead to the 2026 draft class, the four Aussies who joined the NBA this year are still very much in focus.

And Dyson has been getting in touch with his fellow Aussies and Boomers teammates after they realised their NBA dreams.

Rookies Rocco Zikarsky, Alex Toohey, Tyrese Proctor and Lachlan Olbrich will get a first taste of NBA ball when they suit up for the Summer League, set to tip off on Friday morning AEST.

“I’m close with most of them and have played with all of them at some point,” Daniels said.

“To see four Aussies drafted, the most ever at the draft (since 1997), it’s cool, it just shows how good Australian basketball really is.

“The Australian junior programs are doing well, a lot of kids are coming through the ranks.”

Dyson was in Melbourne alongside fellow NBA star Josh Giddey and NBL champion Chris Goulding for the launch of their new state of the art basketball and retail facility, Courtside, on Wednesday night.

Dyson Daniels, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding are investors in Melbourne’s new Courtside facility.

In a treat for fans, Giddey walked the crowd through that “special” game winning half-court buzzer beater from this past season against the LA Lakers, which became a genuine NBA viral moment.

The Chicago Bulls point guard laughed that he couldn’t remember who he had in fact made the memorable shot over, reminder ... it was LeBron James.

He added that playing the Lakers was an experience in itself.

“Any time you play against the Lakers, half the crowd is a Lakers fan whether they’re home or away,” Giddey said at the launch.

“Half the crowd erupted, half were devastated with what happened.

“What gets lost with that, the shot gets a lot of attention, but we were down six points with 10 seconds left with no time outs.

“There were three guys waiting at half court for me, I didn’t have a lot of time to get it up, I tried to get as close as I could to the rim and let it fly.”

With both Giddey and Dyson on the verge of signing mega NBA deals and extensions – mouth-watering figures most Aussies could only dream of – the Bendigo born Daniels says it’s nice to be in a position to be able to reinvest where it all began, with a plan to also lure more major teams to Melbourne.

“To have this opportunity to give back to the kids, have professional teams come out here and use the facility and really cool stores that aren’t in Australia, it’s a hoops haven in a way,” he said.

Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels are investing in the next gen.

“A place that you can come to whenever you want, get some shots up, we’ve got recovery here, a lot of fun and games too to entertain the kids.

“Something like this would’ve been nice growing up, but now to be part of it, it’s still good while I’m young.”

As for the contract figure, that he says is just a “bonus” to being able to live out his NBA dream.

“Obviously being with Atlanta is where I want to be, so hopefully I’m there for the rest of my career,” Daniels said.

“It’s a blessing playing in the NBA, it was a dream of mine as a kid. I’ve always wanted to be there and signing the contract is just a bonus.

“And you get to do cool stuff like this with it, I’m looking forward to the future and doing more things like this.”

CG43’S PLAN FOR UNITED’S CLEAN SLATE

After two consecutive heartbreaking finals series, Melbourne United have gotten busy in the off-season.

Superstars Matthew Dellavedova, Ian Clark, Jack White and Rob Loe have all departed, Fabijan Krslovic, Milton Doyle, Finn Delany and Dash Daniels all incoming.

United captain Chris Goulding says the free agency movements have allowed the team to forget the past two campaigns and come into NBL26 with a clean slate.

Chris Goulding will enter his 19th NBL season. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

“When you get so close for consecutive years and don’t come away with that ultimate goal, it’s a challenging period,” Goulding told Code Sports.

“Whether you want to change tact or stick with it and go forward.

“Everyone that’s been involved over the past couple of years has dealt with it, we move on, it’s the reality of professional sports, every year there’s one winner and a hell of a lot of losers.”

He’s called Melbourne home for 13 years and is embarking on his 19th NBL season, for Goulding, there was no better place to launch Courtside alongside the household names and Victorians in Giddey and Daniels.

“Melbourne is the cultural hub of the southern hemisphere and basketball, especially in this city, plays a massive part of that culture,” he said.

“We’re encompassing all areas of basketball.

“It feels at home in Melbourne.”

Originally published as Another Daniels to NBA: Dyson reveals message for Dash, Josh Giddey opens up on that half court moment