Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, who posted the NBA’s highest steals common in 34 seasons, was named the league’s 2024-25 Most Improved Participant on Wednesday and rewarded with the George Mikan Trophy.
The 22-year-old Australia native obtained 44 of a attainable 100 first-place votes and was listed on 84 ballots by the worldwide media panel whereas totalling 332 factors. Los Angeles Clippers large man Ivica Zubac completed a distant second (186 factors) whereas Detroit Pistons level guard Cade Cunningham took the third (122) spot.
Daniels, a key a part of the offseason commerce with the New Orleans Pelicans that introduced 4 gamers and two first-round draft picks to the Hawks in change for Dejounte Murray, blossomed in his first yr as a starter.
The 6-foot-8, 200-pound guard averaged 14.1 factors, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and three.0 steals in 33.8 minutes per sport over 76 regular-season video games — a marked enchancment over his 5.8 factors, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals in 22.3 minutes per sport for the Pelicans in 2023-24.
Daniels additionally grew to become the fifth participant in NBA historical past to common at the very least 14 factors, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and three steals for a full season, becoming a member of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Michael Ray Richardson and Alvin Robertson.
READ | Spurs’ Stephon Fort wins NBA Rookie Of The Yr Award
No NBA participant had averaged three steals since Robertson posted 3.0 per sport for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1990-91. Daniels, who additionally blocked 0.7 pictures per sport, completed second to Cleveland’s Evan Mobley within the NBA’s Defensive Participant of the Yr balloting.
The 28-year-old Zubac averaged 16.8 factors and 12.6 rebounds in his fifth season because the Clippers’ beginning heart — a wholesome soar from final season’s 11.7 factors and 9.2 rebounds per sport.
Cunningham, the primary total decide within the 2021 NBA Draft, earned his first All-Star Sport nod for averaging 26.1 factors, 9.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds per sport whereas main the Pistons to their first playoff berth since 2019. The 23-year-old level guard produced 22.7 factors, 7.5 assists and 6.3 rebounds per sport the season earlier than.