Dyson Daniels is quickly building his reputation in the NBA.
The young Aussie gunman has shown impressive form every time he takes the floor, which has allowed him to gradually increase his role throughout the first quarter of the season, and this New Orleans Pelicans team has been ranked among the top seeds in the Western Conference.
Considering the 19-year-old Daniels has started five games in recent weeks and played a long time for a team that is now considered a true title contender, that’s remarkable — albeit in a critical situation. Players Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones were injured.
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Thursday, December 15
Thursday 15 December
But those added opportunities could have belonged to anyone, and the Bendigo-born product, who was drafted with the eighth pick six months ago, guaranteed them with his stellar performances.
While Aussies have taken notice of another promising Aussie making a splash in the NBA, he’s also making waves in the American media.
The Ringer will release its top 2023 NBA trade value list in the next few days — effectively ranking the top 70 players in the league right now based on current production, potential and their salaries, Bill Simmons revealsDaniel Although missed, it is worth mentioning.
In fact, Simmons pointed out that he could still find a spot for Daniels when the top 70 is officially released — considering he’s already earmarked superstars Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, Zach LaVine and Brad Libear ranks 70-67, which is a remarkable feat — obviously considering their lucrative contract compared to Daniels’ meager $5.5 million salary (the 218th highest-paid player in the league).
“Daniels came out and he looked like 25 (years old). He’ll probably end up on the roster when I’m done,” he said of the Australian on the Bill Simmons podcast.
“I really like his demeanor … defensively he’s been there.
“Playing with him seems like fun, and I’m interested to see how he evolves for them and whether they can find minutes for them — because they (New Orleans) are a contender.”
As Simmons pointed out, how Daniels gets pushed forward by Pelicans coach Willie Green when the team is healthy will be a fascinating watch to watch considering how far he has come in with more opportunities.
Clearly the youngster needed to play a bigger role, and he wasn’t even part of Bailey’s rotation on opening night in some form.
Whether he continues to play significant minutes or not, he’s proven to be a great option for New Orleans and a real impact player in the league with a bright future on one of the league’s most promising teams.
“When the Wizards got drafted in the latest draft, I was really praying for him to be there. I think he would be a great defensive addition to the team,” NBA analyst Joe House said on the Bill Simmons Podcast.
“He’s just playing hard like a mom, and it’s unbelievable that he’s still with the Pelicans.”
On the stat sheet, Daniels’ averages of 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds don’t stand out.
The versatile guard/forward really stands out in every way behind the 6-foot-7 (201cm) athlete.
He has assigned defensive duties to the best superstars in the game, such as LeBron James, Pascal Siakam, Chris Paul and Devin Booker, and Luka Doncic — the latter in his first time in a fearsome The NBA plays decent minutes all the time — but he’s been preparing for earthquake matchups like this one.
Heck, how many 19-year-old rookies can you put on such a big name? No wonder Green had to give him more playing time.
Also able to switch to different opponents in the defense, Daniels impressed most with his performance at the end of the court.
But he also shines on the offensive end — organizing the offense with wide court vision and getting into attack mode when he gets open — consistently making the right plays and displaying a high level of basketball IQ.
“Unbelievable ball handling and distribution … but the defensive part of the game of basketball is where he’s most comfortable,” former NBA player David Wesley said on Bally Sports.
“I have a feeling we’re going to find that he can play some really good offense when called on as well.
“He doesn’t dread the moment, he doesn’t accelerate. He has a good pace of the game.
“But his understanding and maturity on the defensive end is unbelievable — you don’t usually get that — his reads and rotations and all that.
“He’s a natural defender and the fact that he has some offensive game as well is a bonus.”
While the No. 8 pick enters the NBA with high prospects, not many thought he or the Pelicans would come so soon.
Daniels hasn’t helped him flourish and put up big numbers the way Thunder starting point guard Josh Giddy did last season, but contributing to a true contender is arguably more impressive.
The rest of the 2022 draft class — or even previous draft classes — haven’t contributed to a playoff team, especially since Daniels’ recent play has landed him on the All-Rookie Team.
As The Athletic’s William Guillory emphasized, Daniels’ ability to make an immediate impact on winning teams suggests he’s “unlike most rookies.”
“Life can come upon you quickly as an NBA rookie. It’s tough trying to get your feet wet in a new environment when your idol wants you on their latest highlight tape. Others handle it better,” Guillory wrote www.theathletic.com.
“Unlike most top-10 picks, Daniels is coming into the league with teams that don’t need him to make an immediate impact… The Pelicans plan to slowly bring in Daniels in the hope that he will be ready to contribute as the playoffs approach. But injuries to other key players forced Daniels into the rotation earlier than they expected.
“Because of this, New Orleans learned that Daniels is not like most rookies. His fearlessness, one of the main characteristics that attracted the Pelicans pre-draft, was on full display. A gritty demeanor uncommon for a player his age.He loves being asked to guard some of the best scorers in the world.
“With the opportunities he’s been given, Daniels has shown that he’s a far cry from the long-term project the Pelicans originally expected. The whole organization rethinks his long-term cap.”
