21
Oct
Aussies in the NBA
'You can guard someone else': Flemings' message to Daniels
Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg is defended by Atlanta Hawks’ Dyson Daniels during their preseason game at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on October 17, 2026 (AEDT). Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images.
Highlights
Atlanta's No. 8 pick has faced the Australian every day of camp and joked he can guard someone else.
- Rookie Kingston Flemings says Dyson Daniels guards him every single day at practice
- NBA GMs voted Daniels fourth-best perimeter defender, down from first last year
- Atlanta open their season at Orlando on Thursday, October 22 at 10am AEDT
Atlanta Hawks first-round draft pick Kingston Flemings has already seen enough of Australian Boomers guard and teammate Dyson Daniels.
Flemings, 19, was taken with the eighth pick in 2026 out of Houston and has spent his first training camp being guarded by the Victorian two-time NBA All-Defensive Team star and 2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player.
"Dyson, the way he guards," Flemings said.
"I think he's just an annoying defender, almost. He guards me every single day in practice.
"He's always my matchup, and I tell him sometimes, 'You can guard someone else. It's cool.'
"But no, he's just a pesky defender, on and off the ball. It's almost like you don't even realise he's guarding you until he's right there. That's why he gets a lot of his steals.
"Then, picking up on Nickeil (Alexander-Walker), how he uses his body. With his frame, you wouldn't think he was strong, but he's definitely a strong guy for his frame.
"And then, obviously, Lu, just the strength he plays with and being able to guard fours through ones.
"It's great."
Ten per cent of NBA general managers rated Daniels the league's best perimeter defender in the annual NBA survey of team bosses.
"That's kind of what I've always done," Daniels said of seeking out the toughest guard matchups every night.
"It's been my backbone. It's what's kept me in the NBA.
"So, for me to want the best matchup every night and go out there, it's an offensive league now, so much offensive talent, but you've got to get stops to win games.
"So, I like the challenge of defending the best player and just going out there and trying to create havoc."
The Hawks made offseason moves to ease the pressure on Daniels as the point-of-attack defender and to run the point after they traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards before last season's trade deadline.
Daniels, who had 229 steals in the 2024-25 season, is now listed as a Small Forward on the Hawks depth chart, with star guard CJ McCollum at point and Nickeil Alexander-Walker at two. Elite defender and NBA champion Lu Dort, who joined the Hawks in the offseason, is listed as the second-string two and third-string three behind Aaron Wiggins.
Atlanta starts its 2026-27 NBA season against the Orlando Magic on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 10am (AEDT).
