Dyson Daniels Sets Career-High in Steals, Leads Hawks’ Defensive Effort

Dyson Daniels, the 21-year-old guard for the Atlanta Hawks, made a significant impact in the team’s recent game against the Detroit Pistons. On Friday night, Daniels achieved a career-high with seven steals, the most by a Hawks player in a single game since 2010.

Daniels’ defensive prowess was on full display as he troubled Detroit’s star player, Cade Cunningham, throughout the game. He finished with 18 points on 7-17 shooting, along with three rebounds, two blocks, and the seven steals in 38 minutes of play. Despite the Hawks’ narrow 122-121 loss, Daniels’ performance was a highlight of the game.

His defensive stats are not limited to this single game; Daniels is currently leading the league in deflections, averaging 7.4 per game, and in steals, with an average of 3.0 per game. Hawks head coach Quin Snyder praised Daniels’ defensive skills, noting that his ability to make deflections without taking himself out of the play is unusual and highly valuable.

Daniels’ offensive contribution was also notable, as he hit a clutch triple in the final minute to bring the Hawks within one point of the Pistons. However, the Hawks ultimately fell short after Onyeka Okongwu‘s dunk attempt was blocked by Cunningham.

The young Australian guard has set ambitious goals for the season, including making the first-team All-Defense. His pairing with Trae Young has been effective, with both players complementing each other well on the court. Young has praised Daniels’ defensive abilities, highlighting how his pressure on the ball helps the team’s overall defense.