Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels has been awarded the George Mikan Trophy as the 2024–25 Kia NBA Most Improved Player. This accolade, presented annually since the 1985–86 season, recognizes a player who demonstrates significant growth and performance elevation. Daniels joins Alan Henderson (1997–98) as only the second Hawk in franchise history to receive this honor.
Daniels Delivers Historic All-Around Leap in Scoring, Efficiency, Rebounding, Assists, and Steals
In his third NBA season—and first with Atlanta—Daniels posted career highs across multiple statistical categories. He averaged 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3.01 steals per game, while shooting 49.3% from the field and 34.0% from three-point range.
Dyson Daniels (NBA)These numbers place him in rare company, as he became just the fifth player in league history to average at least 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in a single season, alongside icons like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.
Daniels’ growth from the previous season was historic. He improved his scoring by 8.3 points, rebounding by 2.0, assists by 1.7, and steals by 1.62 per game. This comprehensive leap has only been matched by two other players in NBA history—Michael Ray Richardson and Eric Murdock—under the criteria of playing at least 50 games in each season. These numbers speak to Daniels’ rapid development and growing influence on both ends of the court.
Daniels Emerges as Elite Defender, Leading NBA in Steals and Deflections
Defensively, Daniels was dominant. He led the league in both total steals (229) and steals per game (3.01), the most since Alvin Robertson and Gary Payton, respectively. He also ranked first in deflections per game (5.8) and total deflections (443), underlining his reputation as a premier perimeter defender. His efforts earned him two Kia NBA Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month awards for October/November and March.
At just 22 years old, the Australian guard is already making a name for himself on a global stage. Daniels finished second in the 2024–25 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting, underscoring his two-way impact. A panel of 100 global media voters selected him as the Most Improved Player, with results tabulated by Ernst & Young LLP. In an interview with Inside the NBA, Daniels expressed gratitude for the recognition and outlined his ambition to continue evolving into one of the league’s top players.
