Hawks' Dyson Daniels wins the state-of-the-art player award – Basketball insider
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels won the NBA's 2024-25 championship for Best Progressive Player. It is also now considered the George Mikan Trophy.
In his third season and first in Atlanta, Daniels had a career high of 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.0 steals. In 76 games, he also scored 33.8 minutes with a career-high 3-point shooting percentage of 49.3%, at 34.0%.
Daniels was a fifth-place player with at least 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals in one season, joining Michael Ray Richardson (1979-80), Magic Johnson (1980-81), Alvin Robertson, Alvin Robertson (three times – 1985-86, 1985-86, 1985-87 and 1988-89 and 1988-89) and Michael Jordan (1987-87-88).
Daniels was the second player to win honors with the Hawks, joining Alan Henderson (1997-98).
The 22-year-old leads the NBA with steals and steals per game (229). Daniels averaged the most steals per game since 1990-91 and recorded the most steals in a season since Gary Payton in 1995-96.
He is also the league leader for each deflection (5.8) and total deflection (443).
The Australian is second only to Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley after voting for the second place in the year’s defensive player of the year.
Moving forward, Daniels is likely to establish himself as a key member of Atlanta’s core.
No major surprises in voting
Ivica Zubac, the Los Angeles Clippers Center, ranked second in the vote, followed by Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham.
Zubac performed well with the Clippers and did not have a bigger role in the offense in the first half of the season. In 80 games, he averaged a career-high 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks.
After a painful 14-win season, former No. 1 Cunningham performed well in leading the Pistons back to the playoffs. He averaged 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 70 steals per game.
Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun, Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, Mobley voted.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey was the winner of the award last year.
