Aussies Abroad: Daniels close to making history

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Dyson Daniels is close to making history as his Atlanta Hawks won 134-102 over the Charlotte Hornets.

Dyson Daniels is closing in on Chris Paul's 16-year NBA steals mark after Atlanta took care of an undermanned Charlotte to continue their late-season push.

The Hawks wiped the Hornets off their home floor on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) in a one-sided 134-102 victory.

A day after his 22nd birthday, Australian Daniels starred with 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting, seven rebounds, seven assists and - crucially - three steals.

He passed Ricky Rubio's 2014 mark with his first steal and now has 194 from 63 games, the most in a season since Paul amassed 216 in 2008-09.

Daniels, New Orleans' eighth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft traded to Atlanta last year, is averaging an elite three steals per game in this campaign.

With 13 regular-season games to play he is projected to eclipse Chicago legend Scottie Pippen's 232 in 1995, Michael Jordan's 221 in 1993 and finish with the most since John Stockton (244) in 1992.

Jazz great Stockton, the NBA's runaway total steals leader with 3265, averaged 2.17 across his 1504-game career.

Daniels said his goal prior to this season was to be named in the NBA's All-Defensive team.

But he's is now among the favourites with bookmakers to win the league's Defensive Player of the Year award.

"Dyson's just been killing," fellow Australian Ben Simmons told reporters this week.

"He's been all over it - Defensive Player of the Year for me.

"It's hard not to give it to him. I think he's just everywhere. He has great hands, and he's really guarding everybody."

Daniels is fifth in betting to scoop that prize.

A run up the ladder will help his cause, Atlanta (33-36) are five wins behind sixth-placed Detroit in the Eastern Conference standings.

They next host Golden State on Saturday.

Meanwhile, defending champions Boston won at home against Brooklyn 104-96, their 14th win from the sides' last 15 encounters.

Kristaps Porzingis returned from an eight-game absence due to illness and led the Celtics (50-19), second in the East, with 25 points and 13 rebounds.