197: Dyson Daniels just THREE away from milestone

• Daniels is leading the NBA in steals per game with 3.0
• On his current pace, Daniels will finish in the top 20 all-time for single season
• Daniels season high for steals is eight

Australian guard Dyson Daniels has 197 steals, just three away from the magical 200 for the season after snatching three more on on March 23, 2025 against the Golden State Warriors.

Only 35 players in NBA history have had 200 or more steals in a single season.

He has the fourth most steals by any player in the 21st century: Allen Iverson in 2002-03 had 225, and Chris Paul had 217 and (2007-08) and 216 in 2008-09.

Daniels, 21, already has the most steals in an NBA season by and Australian.

Atlanta has played 69 games this season and are 33-36. Daniels has played in 64 games for the Hawks, he needs to play only one more to be eligible for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. If he maintains his average and plays the remainder of the season, Daniels will finish with 233 steals, tucked neatly between Scottie Pippen (234) and Michael Jordan (232).

Daniels now had 13 games this season with five or more steals. The next closest is just four.

With every steal he moves further up the all-time list. He is now tied for the 90th most steals in a single season.

He will finish the 2024-25 season as the NBA leader in steals.

If he plays the remaining 14 games in the regular season for the 27-33 Hawks and maintains his average of three steals per game, he will finish on or about 231 steals and in elite company.

231 steals puts Daniels inside the top 20 on the all-time single season list, ahead equal with "The Glove" Gary Payton, who is 19th.

Daniels is becoming a legitimate chance to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

“It’s cool just to be mentioned, my name, have it be mentioned in that category," Daniels told Hawks TV.

"Coming into the season, my goal was to be First Team All-Defense; and now the goal is Defensive Player of the Year.

"I think going out there: You can go for MVP, you can go put up shots, but defense, you’re not a detriment to the team if you’re playing defense. It’s gonna help the team, so there’s no real stat padding on defense. It’s going out there and it’s just making plays.

"For me, yeah, it’s a possibility, but I’m not too zoned in on it. I just wanna win games and playoffs is what we’re trying to get to.

"So, we need to win some more games.”

Daniels is ranked 12th in NBA history for most six-steal games in a single season with seven. He's just one six-steal game behind Michael Jordan in 1987-88 and 1990-91, Fat Lever in 1988-89 and Nate McMillan in 1993-94.

Alvin Robertson, who holds the record for the most steals in a single season with 301 in 1985-86 season when he won the Defensive Player of the Year award, holds the record with 13 in the 1986-97 season and 12 in '85-86.

Daniels, who has seven steals three times, now has more steals in a single season than any player since the start of the 2019-20 NBA season.

Daniels had an extraordinary seven steals against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

Michael Ray Richardson is 10th with 243 in the 1984-85 season, Stockton is 9th with 244 in the 1991-92 season, 1986 Defensive Player of the Year Alvin Robertson is 8th with 246 in 1990-91 and Michael Jordan in 7th with 259 in the 1987-88 season.

Daniels season high in steals is eight against Joe Ingles' Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas Eve 2024. He had seven against the Detroit Pistons on November 9, 2024 and has six steals in four games, fives steals four times, and four steals nine times.

Daniels was involved in a significant trade that sent him to the Atlanta Hawks from the New Orleans Pelicans, where he continues to develop and contribute as a key piece of their young core. On 6 July 2024, Daniels, along with EJ Liddell, Larry Nance Jr., and Cody Zeller (via sign-and-trade), plus a 2025 first-round pick (via Lakers) as well as a conditional 2027 first-round pick were traded to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for veteran Dejounte Murray.

Daniels, drafted 8th overall by the Pelicans in 2022, found his way to Atlanta where he has flourished into a key player for the Hawks. Standing at an impressive 2.01 metres and weighing 90 kilograms, he possesses the physical attributes to compete at the highest level.

The 2024-25 season has been a breakout year for Daniels, with his statistics painting a picture of a player who contributes across the board. Averaging 13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists per game, and 3.0 steals per game, Daniels has established himself as legit two-way player. His field goal percentage of 47.4% demonstrates efficiency in his shooting, a crucial aspect for any guard in the modern NBA.

A closer look at Daniels' game logs reveals his consistency and ability to step up in crucial moments. On February 13, 2025, in a nail-biting overtime loss to the New York Knicks, Daniels put up an impressive stat line of 23 points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Daniels' versatility is perhaps best illustrated by his performances in February. Over a span of seven games, he averaged 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.

The development of Daniels' three-point shooting is an area of particular interest. While his current season average of 33.3% from beyond the arc indicates room for improvement, there have been games where he has shown flashes of excellence. For instance, in a victory against the Orlando Magic on February 11, Daniels went 2-from-3 from three-point range, hinting at his potential to become a reliable long-range threat.

Daniels' impact extends beyond the stat sheet. His court vision and decision-making have been crucial in orchestrating the Hawks' offence. With an assist-to-turnover ratio of over 2:1, Daniels has shown maturity in his ball-handling and playmaking abilities.

As the Hawks continue to build around their core players, Daniels' role is likely to expand further. His ability to play both guard positions provides the team with lineup flexibility. Moreover, his defensive versatility enables the Hawks to switch on screens more effectively.

Looking ahead, the ceiling for Daniels appears incredibly high. At just 21 years old, he has already established himself as a key contributor on a competitive NBA team. As he continues to refine his shooting and playmaking skills, Daniels has the potential to develop into an All-Star calibre player.

For the Atlanta Hawks, Daniels' emergence couldn't have come at a better time. As the team looks to establish itself as a perennial contender in the Eastern Conference, having a young, versatile guard with room for growth is invaluable. Daniels' ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor provides the Hawks with a foundational piece around which they can build their future.