Daniels sharpens offensive bag, vows tougher D

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What is there to do in the off-season for the NBA's Most Improved Player, Australian Dyson Daniels — get better.

Daniels, 23, revealed he spent more time in the gym as he prepared for his second season at the Atlanta Hawks, who have added unicorn Kristaps Porziņģis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

"This summer was really fun," he said at the Hawks Media Day press conference today.

"My first two summers were World Cup and Olympics, so I didn’t get time off just to work on my game.

"This time I could be with my trainer and make improvements in a lot of areas. I worked a lot on the mid-range — getting to spots, different pickups, footwork into shots — just developing the offensive bag.

"Defense is always my backbone; it got me here. So I focused on building the offensive side: a lot of shots, different pickups, different footwork, different finishing.

"We’re deep this year — playing off guys like Trae, with KP coming in, and Nickeil — so I’m fitting my role and playing it to the best of my ability.”

Daniels was sensational in 2024-25. He had the most steals — 229 — this Millennium and  finished equal 20th for steals in a single season but was snubbed for the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

He tied Johnny Moore's steals mark in the 1984-85 season. Daniels is the first player since Scottie Pippen 30 YEARS AGO to have 200+ steals and 50 blocks in a single NBA season. He had 229 steals in 76 games for the 40-42 Atlanta Hawks.

Defense is Daniels' calling card and he's only going to get better.

“I’ve watched a lot of film on where we can be better as a team and how I can help more," he said.

"I can get steals and make plays, but when it comes down to a stop we have to be in the right positions, have each other’s back, rotate for each other. I’m focusing on help defense — when to rotate, when not to — and holding teammates accountable to rotate.

"I want to be a leader on that end, more vocal: ‘We’re not rotating from here; fly around; close short here.’

"On the ball, I’m working on fighting through screens and keeping my matchup. With KP protecting the rim, we’ll tweak things because we need to be better defensively.

"It starts with leadership and accountability.

“I have a lot more improvement in me. The game is fast, decisions are split-second — contest or step in and take a charge.

"I want to take more charges. Some players are elite at drawing fouls. One of my strengths is keeping people off the free-throw line and contesting without fouling.

"I do want to draw more offensive fouls —come over and take charges.

"Basketball has some selling to it — if you get hit on a screen, you have to sell it or you won’t get the call. It’s about knowing when to do that and when to stay disciplined, fight through, and get back in front.

"I’m looking forward to the game slowing down more this year so I can execute those reads."

The Hawks off-season recruiting has put the Atlanta franchise into a position to contend after finishing the 2024-25 40-42 and being eliminated in the Play-In tournament.

‍"Defense is fun when you’re getting stops, steals, and blocks and creating easy offense," he said.

"Bringing those guys in only helps. Nickeil is an elite on-ball defender. KP is an elite rim protector. It’s about building chemistry — knowing tendencies. I’m not just sending my guy to the rim and relying on KP; he needs to know how to help me, too. With Nickeil we can switch, pick up full court, and make life difficult. We have a lot of routes we can take, and it’s exciting.”

Daniels revealed the Hawks gave him the space in 2024-25 to develop his game.

"Coach Q was huge. He gave me confidence, gave me a starting role, and told me to be myself," Daniels said.

"He’s never told me not to shoot or not to make a play. It was also my mindset — I wasn’t happy with my first two years; I wasn’t aggressive, I felt I took a step back.

"I wanted to change my career trajectory: play free, fear no one. I did that and want to build on it every year. This organisation feels like home — teammates, front office — everyone is easy to talk to. You come in wanting to work and stay around. In that environment, it’s easier to flourish.”

With the Hawks re-tooled for a run at the Eastern Conference Finals, Daniels said he was willingly to play any role to help Atlanta win.

“Basketball is so positionless now," he said.

"I grew up a point guard — that’s always been me. Point guard is about feel: some score, some pass, there are many versions.

"When Trae sits, I can back him up — play fast, get us into offense, get downhill, create for everyone.

"Point guard doesn’t always mean walking it up and calling a set; sometimes you do that to stop a run, but it’s about reading flow and giving the team what it needs.

"One of my strengths is pace. We have athletes who can run — Jalen, Naji, our wings.

"When Trae is off, we can use size and length and play fast. Going into year four, I’m more comfortable at that spot and know what to expect. It’s about building trust so the staff knows someone will be disciplined and run the team.”