2
May
Final Analysis
Daniels reveals what really broke his three-point shot
Australian Dyson Daniels is introduced to the Atlanta Hawks home crowd. Photo: Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images
Press Conferences
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Australian Atlanta Hawks star guard Dyson Daniels has taken accountability for his woeful 18.8% three-point shooting percentage in the 2025-26 NBA season.
“I think it’s all mental,” Daniels admitted during his exit interview today.
“I’ve never really been challenged like that before. I’ve been working with a shooting coach – my technique is fine. I can shoot 70–75% in workouts.
“But in pressure environments, it’s different. You’ve got to trust your work. Shooting in front of 15,000 people every night is a lot different.
“I’m glad I was challenged, though – I overcame mental barriers I can take into next season.”
The 22-year-old Victorian went 22-for-117 this season after shifting from the two-guard to point guard when Trae Young went down injured against the Brooklyn Nets on October 30, 2025. The role would become permanent when the Hawks traded Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert on January 9, 2026.
The Hawks season ended on Friday, May 1, 2026 at the hands of the New York Knicks in an embarrassing Game 6 home blowout 140-89 loss. Daniels was ejected for a scuffle with Knicks centre Mitchell Robinson in the second quarter.
Dyson Daniels 2025-26 Shooting Splits (Per Game + Percentages)
- FG: 51.7% (5.3-from-10.2)
- 2PT: 57.6% (5.0-from-8.7)
- 3PT: 18.8% (0.3-from-1.5)
- FT: 61.5% (1.0-of-1.6)
- eFG%: 53.2
Dyson Daniels Career Shooting Splits (Per Game – 4 Seasons)
- FG: 48.8% (4.0-from-8.2)
- 2PT: 55.4% (3.4-from-6.1)
- 3PT: 29.8% (0.6-from-2.1)
- FT: 61.4% (0.8-of-1.3)
- eFG%: 52.7
Atlanta vs New Orleans Split
Atlanta Hawks (2024–26)
- FG: 50.4% (5.6-from-11.2)
- 2PT: 56.0% (5.0-from-8.9)
- 3PT: 29.0% (0.7-from-2.3)
- FT: 60.3% (1.0-of-1.7)
- eFG%: 53.4
New Orleans Pelicans (2022–24)
- FG: 43.5% (1.9-from-4.3)
- 2PT: 52.7% (1.3-from-2.5)
- 3PT: 31.2% (0.6-from-1.8)
- FT: 64.5% (0.5-of-0.8)
- eFG%: 50.2
“It’s a lot of fuel,” Daniels said.
“Personally, I have a lot to work on. I was pretty disappointed with this season, to be honest. But I know this is gonna be a big summer for me – working on my game.
“There’s a lot of learning you can take from the season. I’m kind of glad I had the struggles because it really motivates me and helps with my mental toughness.
“I think it’s set me up to have a good summer and come back prepared next year.”
Daniels was coming off a season in 2024-25 as the NBA’s Most Improved Player, leading the league in steals with 229 – the most this Millennium. He was the first player since Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen 30 YEARS AGO to have 200+ steals and 50 blocks in a single NBA season.
The Australian Boomer conceded that it meant he was being scouted more by opposing teams.
“Yeah, for sure,” he said.
“The physicality went up another level. I had to find other ways to be effective. With the shot not falling, it made it harder – the way I was being defended, trying to get to my spots.
“This year gave me a lot of motivation. Early in the year, I was challenged mentally with the shot, but towards the end, I found ways to work around it.
“I got into a better space, trusted myself more, and let the three fly.
“I took jumps in some areas, but steps back in others. It’s about working on everything this summer and putting myself in pressure environments to get better.”
Daniels is already planning his off-season and is determined to get better heading into the second year of his USD $100M contract extension.
“Probably Monday,” Daniels said of returning to Australia.
“It’s important to take some time off and reset. I’ll do a couple of weeks at home, then come back to the US. I’ll probably be in LA most of the summer (working on) becoming more versatile – different counters, developing a mid-range game, and using my size to rise over people.
“Getting stronger is big too – not getting knocked off my line when driving, going through contact.
“There’s a lot I need to work on.”
Top 10 – Total Steals + Steals Per Game
- Cason Wallace (OKC) – 150 (1.95 spg)
- Dyson Daniels (ATL) – 149 (1.96 spg)
- Ausar Thompson (DET) – 146 (2.00 spg)
- Kris Dunn (LAC) – 131 (1.60 spg)
- Tyrese Maxey (PHI) – 130 (1.86 spg)
- Kawhi Leonard (LAC) – 122 (1.88 spg)
- Reed Sheppard (HOU) – 122 (1.49 spg)
- Amen Thompson (HOU) – 119 (1.51 spg)
- Scottie Barnes (TOR) – 114 (1.43 spg)
- Ryan Rollins (MIL) – 110 (1.49 spg)
NBA Leaders – Stocks (SPG + BPG)
- Victor Wembanyama – 4.11 (1.0 STL │ 3.1 BLK)
- Walker Kessler – 3.20 (1.4 STL │ 1.8 BLK)
- Kadary Richmond – 3.00 (2.7 STL │ 0.3 BLK)
- Ausar Thompson – 2.95 (2.0 STL │ 0.9 BLK)
- Scottie Barnes – 2.88 (1.4 STL │ 1.5 BLK)
- Alex Sarr – 2.79 (0.8 STL │ 2.0 BLK)
- Anthony Davis – 2.75 (1.1 STL │ 1.7 BLK)
- Kevin Porter Jr. – 2.68 (2.2 STL │ 0.5 BLK)
- Tyrese Maxey – 2.64 (1.9 STL │ 0.8 BLK)
- Jalen Slawson – 2.62 (1.5 STL │ 1.1 BLK)
- Dyson Daniels – 2.37 stocks (2.0 STL │ 0.4 BLK) – Ranked No.22 overall
- Matisse Thybulle – 2.53 stocks (2.0 STL │ 0.5 BLK) – Ranked No.16
Dyson Daniels – 2025–26 NBA Regular Season (Atlanta Hawks)
Games: 76 │ Starts: 76 │ Record: 44–32
Double-Doubles: 15 total (13 excluding triple-doubles) │ Triple-Doubles: 2
Season Averages
Minutes: 33.2
Points: 11.9 │ Rebounds: 6.8 │ Assists: 5.9
Steals: 2.0 │ Blocks: 0.4 │ Turnovers: 1.8 │ Personal Fouls: 2.2
Shooting
FG: 51.7% (5.3-from-10.2)
2PT: 57.6% (5.0-from-8.7)
3PT: 18.8% (0.3-from-1.5)
FT: 61.5% (1.0-of-1.6)
eFG%: 53.2
Season Totals
Minutes: 2,523
Points: 901 │ Rebounds: 520 (ORB: 184 │ DRB: 336) │ Assists: 449
Steals: 149 │ Blocks: 31 │ Turnovers: 135 │ Personal Fouls: 166
Shooting Totals
FG: 402-from-777
2PT: 380-from-660
3PT: 22-from-117
FT: 75-of-122
Individual Game Highs
Minutes: 44:13 – @ Philadelphia (Nov 30, 2025 – 2OT)
Points: 28 – vs Golden State (Mar 21, 2026)
Field Goals Made: 13 – vs Philadelphia (Dec 14, 2025)
Field Goal Attempts: 19 – vs Philadelphia (Dec 14, 2025)
3PT Made: 2 – multiple games
3PT Attempts: 5 – multiple games
Free Throws Made: 6 – @ Detroit (Dec 12, 2025)
Free Throw Attempts: 8 – @ Detroit (Dec 12, 2025)
Rebounds: 13 – multiple games
Assists: 13 – vs LA Lakers (Nov 8, 2025)
Steals: 5 – multiple games
Blocks: 3 – @ Milwaukee (Mar 4, 2026)
Turnovers: 5 – @ San Antonio (Nov 20, 2025)
Game Score: 31.0 – vs Golden State (Mar 21, 2026)
Plus/Minus: +38 – @ Sacramento (Nov 12, 2025)
