NBA end of season awards: Australia’s Dyson Daniels shortlisted for two prizes

Dyson Daniels’ breakout NBA season has earnt him nominations for two end of campaign awards, including one of the competition’s most revered prizes.

Another chapter has been added in the incredible rise of Dyson Daniels as an NBA force, with the ‘Great Barrier Thief’ named a finalist for two of the league’s end of season awards.

The Victorian Hoops product was widely expected to be one of the three nominees for the defensive player of the year award, having averaged three steals a game during the 24/25 season.

He is up against big men Draymond Green (Golden State) and Evan Mobley (Cleveland) for the honour.

But his breakout year with the Atlanta Hawks, which saw the talented wing player also average 14 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists, also earned him a nomination for the most improved player award.

Detroit young gun Cade Cunningham and LA Clippers centre Ivica Zubac are the other nominees.

The dual nominations further enhance Daniels’ reputation as one of Australia’s most talented players and a key cog for the Boomers ahead of the next World Cup in 2027 and the LA Olympics in 2028.

The NBA’s finalists for the overall MVP award are Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee),

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City) and Nikola Jokic (Denver).

Daniels and his Atlanta Hawks’ season was ended after a seven-point defeat at the hands of Miami.

Daniels, among the favourites to win both Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player after a stunning breakout season, put up a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, dished out four assists and added another three steals to the 229 he swiped in a regular season where he became the youngest player in league history to record 200 or more in a single campaign.

Aussie Dyson Daniels’ historic NBA season came to a close at the hands of Miami. Picture: AP

But it wasn’t enough as opposing guard Tyler Herro went off for 30 points on five treys, the veteran marksman giving 22-year-old Daniels all he could handle in leading six Heat players in double digits.

The Hawks’ start to the game was nothing short of horrible. Just over two minutes in, they were down double digits, surrendering the first 10 points of the game unanswered.

Forced to chase their tails from there, midway through the second quarter, things looked like getting ugly when Haywood Highsmith’s three gave the Heat a 45-28 lead.

But the Hawks’ defence dialled up its intensity as each quarter eclipsed, and a breakout fourth from star guard Trae Young (29 points, 11 assists) left the all square at 106 at the end of regulation.

Miami scoring machine Tyler Herro lit the Hawks up. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

A 9-0 run in the first two minutes of overtime on the back of three unanswered treys from the Heat made things tough and then mistakes, coupled with lack of effort when it mattered most — particularly from Young — condemned the Hawks to a 123-114 defeat on their home floor.

Young and teammate Onyeka Okongwu (28 points, 12 boards) combined to score exactly half the Hawks’ score, while bench igniters Georges Niang (20) and Caris LeVert (15-7-6) helped in the fightback.

The loss meant a straight sets exit for the eighth-seed Hawks after Wednesday’s 25-point belting at the hands of Orlando.

Heat forward Andrew Wiggins made a series of tough finishes on his way to a near triple-double of 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, while leader Bam Adebayo was within striking distance of a rare five-by-five, posting 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, five blocks and two steals.

The Heat made history with the win, becoming the first 10th seed since the play-in tournament’s inception to book a playoff berth as they locked in a first-round date with top-of-the-East Cleveland.

Originally published as NBA end of season awards: Australia’s Dyson Daniels shortlisted for two prizes