Australia’s hotshot NBA prospect Dyson Daniels helps Team Barry win Rising Stars Challenge on All-Star weekend

Australian Dyson Daniels’ ascension to the NBA took another positive step with his performance in the Rising Stars game

Australian basketball’s latest hotshot prospect Dyson Daniels helped Team Barry win the Rising Stars final on All-Star weekend in an impressive debut on the NBA stage.

The 18-year-old guard, who is spending this season with the G League Ignite ahead of the NBA Draft, received a rare opportunity to join the Rising Stars Challenge despite not being in the top league yet.

Daniels amassed four points, three rebounds, two assists and two blocks as he showed glimpses of his potential on both ends of the court, including guarding former NBL player-turned-NBA star LaMelo Ball.

The potential lottery pick has already made his debut for the Australian Boomers and is blazing a similar trail to the NBA as top-five selections Ben Simmons and Dante Exum.

Team Barry, which was led by No.1 draft pick and MVP Cade Cunningham, won the final, 25-20, over Team Isiah.

The #CloroxRisingStars CHAMPION Dyson Daniels showing off his new hardware! 🥇 #GLeagueIgnitepic.twitter.com/8dCDFWuhZE

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 19, 2022

The format was played over three games this year rather than the traditional one, with four teams competing for the right to make the final.

The earlier matches were a race to 50 points, while the final was first to 25, in a nod to the NBA’s 75th anniversary season.

Speaking to NBA.com afterwards, Daniels said the Rising Stars game showed he still had plenty of work to do to compete with the world’s best.

“There are a lot of great players out there and just the physicality of it – it was still very physical out there – so I’m going to have to go get in the weight room to get stronger,” Daniels said.

“The pace of going up and down (the court) and guarding one-on-one is definitely something I’m not used to, to that extent, but it was good for me just to learn how to get better.”