Matt Winer and Steve Smith react to Dyson Daniels going #8 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Prospect Overview
Big, versatile guard who competes unselfishly on both ends, picked up some quality experience playing on the ball in the G League this season, and continues to grow as a scoring threat.
About Dyson Daniels
Dyson Daniels is a big guard with budding talent whose in-season improvement in the G League Ignite program propelled him up draft boards. Hailing from Bendigo, Australia where his father, Ricky — who played at North Carolina State — settled as a pro, Daniels emerged as a prospect averaging 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3 steals over 21.4 minutes per game at the 2018 FIBA U15 Oceania Championship. Earning a reputation for his versatility early in his career and making his NBL1 debut with Bendigo just after his 16th birthday, his continued growth both physically and as a scorer helped him earn a spot at the NBA Global Academy.
Becoming the first Academy player to graduate to the G League Ignite, Daniels joined several other prospects in the project’s first year playing a conventional schedule. Averaging 12 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2 steals per game for head coach Jason Hart, Daniels stuffed the stat sheet all season, but finished the year playing especially well.
• Measured standing 6-foot-7.5 in shoes with a 195-pound frame and a 6-foot-10.5 wingspan at the 2022 NBA Combine, Daniels has grown over an inch since the fall giving him intriguing size for a willing defender who can handle the ball. A solid athlete who competes with great intensity, the 19-year old still has room to fill out following his late growth spurt.
• Playing both on and off the ball in the G League, Daniels saw his role expand and shift toward the point guard spot more consistently as the year wore on. A steady ball handler who plays with poise and unselfishness, he made an effort to make the right play consistently using his size to his advantage as a passer and getting to floaters in the lane. Looking more comfortable looking for his own shot off the dribble as the year wore on while making notable strides as a set shooter as well, the versatile guard continues to evolve fairly quickly on the offensive end. He still has room to get stronger and improve his pull-up shooter stroke, but set an impressive trajectory with the development of his skill set while adjusting to competing at a high level for the first time.
• Playing with unique maturity on the defensive end, Daniels is a diligent competitor whose size gives him the ability to guard multiple positions. He has great instincts on the glass and in the passing lanes to go along with a rare dedication to being in the right spots off the ball for a player his age.
Advanced Stats
• Playing both on and off the ball but creating for himself and others more frequently down the stretch, Daniels filled a variety of roles for the G League Ignite. Sparking the break, spacing the floor, and operating out of pick and rolls, he found ways to score more efficiently as the year wore on.
• Making the simple play consistently in the half court both moving the ball along the perimeter and when getting a piece of the paint off the dribble, Daniels posted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5 in the half court in his first taste of high level competition. While he has room to continue to grow as a ball handler and slasher, he showed some promise as an initiator on the offensive end at nearly 6-foot-8.
• Using his size more effectively to put pressure on the rim as he acclimated to the speed of the G League, Daniels averaged 0.82 points per floater [51st percentile] and 1.16 points per shot around the rim in the half court [49th percentile]. Using spin moves to get to his floater, Daniels has room to be more imposing as he gets stronger, but had some positive moments attacking smaller guards, driving closeouts, and even crashing the glass as a rookie.
• Scoring 0.86 points per catch and shoot jump shot [27th percentile] but 0.70 points per pull-up jump shot [24th percentile], Daniels found a better rhythm as a spot up shooter late in the year than he did early on. With only 10% of his shot attempts coming on dribble jump shots, he has room to become more of a threat to keep opposing defenders honest when handling the ball.
• Filling in a lot of blanks offensively with his hustle, unselfishness, and feel, his improvement as a set shooter and the flashes he showed as a ball handler leave significant room for optimism about his short and long term potential.
Defensive Analysis
• Bringing a sense of urgency to the defensive end, Daniels got the most out of his size and lateral quickness in the G League last season. Allowing just 0.64 points per one-on-one possession [72nd percentile], the 19-year-old held up well on the ball despite the room his frame still has to fill out.
• Showing a knack for tracking the ball on the glass and great instincts in the passing lanes, Daniels made an impact in a variety of ways defensively.
• Closing out shooters with a sense of urgency and bothering opposing guards with his reach, he was far more solid off the ball than the vast majority of players competing at a high level for the first time.