Dyson Daniels Wins Most Improved Player Award After Breakout Season
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels has transformed from role player to star, winning the NBA’s 2024-25 Most Improved Player Award, now known as the George Mikan trophy.
The 22-year-old Australian put up numbers that turned heads across the league in his first season with Atlanta.
Daniels averaged 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and a whopping 3.0 steals per game – all career highs. He also shot better than ever before, hitting 49.3% from the field and 34.0% from three-point range while playing nearly 34 minutes a night.
What makes his season truly special? Daniels joined an exclusive club that only has four other members.
He became just the fifth player in NBA history to average at least 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in a season. The others? Michael Ray Richardson, Magic Johnson, Alvin Robertson, and Michael Jordan. That’s some pretty incredible company.
Daniels was an absolute menace on defense this year.
He led the entire NBA in steals per game and total steals (229), putting up the highest steals-per-game average since 1990-91. Nobody has grabbed more total steals in a season since Gary Payton back in 1995-96.
If that wasn’t enough, he also topped the league in deflections per game (5.8) and total deflections (443).
His defensive dominance nearly earned him another major award – he finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Cleveland’s Evan Mobley.
Daniels is just the second Hawk to win Most Improved Player, with Alan Henderson being the first back in 1997-98.
## The Competition
Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac came in second place in the voting, with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham finishing third.
Zubac stepped up big time for the Clippers this season, especially when Kawhi Leonard was sidelined. The big man played 80 games and posted career-best numbers: 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game.
Cunningham, the former No. 1 draft pick, had a breakout year despite playing for a struggling Pistons team. He averaged an impressive 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 9.1 assists, and a steal across 70 games, helping Detroit return to the playoffs after a dismal 14-win season.
Denver’s Christian Braun, the Lakers’ Austin Reaves, and Cleveland’s Evan Mobley rounded out the top six in voting.
Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey won the award last season.
With this performance, Daniels has likely cemented himself as a cornerstone of Atlanta’s future plans. The Hawks seem to have found a two-way star who’s just getting started.
