Closing year it used to be Josh Giddey.
This time around, Australia has any other NBA hopeful rocketing up the board sooner than this Friday’s draft.
His title is Dyson Daniels and he is rated the sixth-handiest prospect available primarily based on ESPN.
Right here, foxsports.com.au introduces you to Australia’s subsequent NBA celebrity, giving you an insight into Daniels’ background, strengths, weaknesses and most likely landing spots.
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WHO IS HE?
Daniels grew up in Bendigo, factual over 150 kilometres north of Melbourne and is the son of long-time NBL1 import Ricky Daniels.
His father is a Bendigo Braves memoir, to the extent that his amount used to be retired at Bendigo Stadium.
Dyson Daniels in circulate on the Under-14 Nationals.Provide: SuppliedDaniels played his junior basketball for the Braves, leading them to victory at below 16s Nationwide Junior Traditional in 2018 sooner than representing Australia on the below 15s Oceania Championships later that year.
Even from indispensable college age Daniels used to be identified as a main expertise, piece of Victoria’s deliver college program sooner than progressing via Victoria Nation pathways and incomes option in the underside-age below 16s deliver team.
Dyson Daniels represented his deliver.Provide: FOX SPORTSDaniels then followed in his father’s footsteps after being elevated to the club’s senior roster in 2019 to play in the NBL1 at factual 15 years used.
“There used to be a sport in opposition to the Melbourne Tigers where he changed the tide of the sport relieve then,” Ben McCauley, Daniels’ coach at Bendigo, told foxsports.com.au.
“That used to be undoubtedly spectacular for a 16-year-used. He indubitably wasn’t out of put.”
Daniels made the pass to Canberra to support the NBA’s Global Academy rapidly after, placing on a show on the below 20s Australian Junior Championships in March, 2020.
The highlights saved coming for Daniels, who led Victoria to a silver medal on the below 20s Nationwide Championships in Mackay two months later.
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Dyson Daniels with Patrick Ryan sooner than the Australian below-20 championships in Mackay. Image: Matthew ForrestSource: Info Regional MediaThen in 2021, at factual 17 years used, Daniels made his senior team debut as he scored 23 facets and had six steals to abet the Boomers to victory over Fresh Zealand in a FIBA qualifier sport.
Daniels used to be well and undoubtedly on the NBA radar that time, with provides to play college basketball or in the NBL.
The 19-year-used picked an substitute pathway, joining the G-League — the NBA’s legit minor league organisation — and suiting up for Ignite, a novel team handiest fashioned in 2020.
WHY DID HE GO TO THE G-LEAGUE?
Daniels went to the G-League to envision himself and he used to be challenged lawful away.
The Australian shot factual 10-of-28 from the self-discipline with six assists and 11 turnovers in his first three pre-season video games, struggling to preserve with the increased physicality and tempo.
On the opposite hand, the G-League Ignite is a indispensable-of-its-form team, completely dedicated to constructing younger possibilities in preparation for the draft.
That fashion involves the chance to play below and alongside veterans of the sport, including head coach Jason Hart, program manager Rod Strickland and teammate Pooh Jeter.
Hart used to be intent on letting Daniels play via his early mistakes, now not taking him off the court and as an substitute permitting the Australian to handiest develop in self assurance as the season improved.
“I’ve loved it. Going over there used to be a threat for me, but it absolutely paid off,” Daniels told ESPN’s ‘The Jump’ in March.
“I undoubtedly enjoyed my time. Wse had a correct neighborhood of fellows that enjoyed taking half in collectively. We had a huge coaching group and I realized lots and developed on and off the court which used to be the most major goal I went there.”
Daniels accomplished his time with the Ignite averaging 11.6 facets, 6.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2 steals, and nil.8 blocks.
His breakout efficiency got here relieve in March when he went terminate to recording Ignite’s first-ever triple double, finishing with 21 facets, 18 rebounds and eight assists in opposition to the Stockton Kings.
Dyson Daniels seen his time in the G-League as an opportunity to develop. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Pictures)Provide: Getty ImagesSTRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
At 6-foot-8 and with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Daniels has the flexibility to guard four positions and his coach on the G-League Ignite, Jason Hart, thinks that will in the waste turn out to be all five.
“I mediate that’s [his defence] what’s going to get him on a court without delay when he gets to the NBA,” Hart told foxsports.com.au.
“His ability to guard one via four and as he gets stronger he’ll be in a method to guard one to five because he’s an infinite man.”
Daniels averaged 1.9 steals and nil.8 blocks in 29 video games with Ignite remaining year and that ability to be a distinction-maker on the defensive dwell is nothing unique for the 19-year-used.
Dyson Daniels is an elite defender. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE by Getty Pictures)Provide: Getty Pictures“I in actual fact mediate he might maybe well be an elite defender at NBA level,” Melbourne United assistant coach Justin Schueller told foxsports.com.au.
Schueller used to be Daniels’ coach for the below 16 Australian team that competed on the FIBA 2019 Asia Championships, seeing the younger guard’s defensive prowess first-hand at a younger age.
“He’s got so many items at that dwell — his vary, his ability to take a seat down down down and guard of us and the physicality he can advise there,” Schueller mentioned.
Peter Lonergan has viewed a complete bunch of promising Australian possibilities as the director of excessive efficiency and expertise identification at Basketball Australia.
Daniels’ “terrific defensive dispositions” even though were a “unfamiliar” asset that continuously made him stand out — and he is rated as the easiest perimeter defender on this year’s draft class.
“He factual understands defence and to for the time being, I mediate that is his power,” Lonergan mentioned.
“It used to be undoubtedly some extent of distinction for him. That’s now not to narrate that the opposite younger players didn’t shield but he understood defence sooner than lots of his chums.”
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Daniels also has a selfless method with correct imaginative and prescient for the sport and is particular lethal in transition with outlet passes after he takes rebounds.
The one query mark hanging over Daniels is his taking pictures, having knocked down factual 30 per cent of 3-point makes an try and 53.3 per cent of his free throws in the G-League.
His shot, which has been described as robotic, did make stronger throughout the season even though and Ignite coach Hart described the concerns over it as “overstated”.
“I mediate that taking pictures is one thing that comes with time,” he mentioned.
“I imply he’s now not coming in with the Steph Curry or Damian Lillard but whenever you continue to work, persistently in the NBA like he’s going to, the taking pictures will doubtless be dazzling.”
While Daniels’ shot-making might maybe presumably well elevate time to manufacture, he is the extra or less participant who can impact worthwhile with out it primarily being reflected in a box rating.
Dyson Daniels’ taking pictures will handiest make stronger primarily based on Ignite coach Jason Hart. Photo: Cameron Laird/FIBASource: SuppliedHOW DOES HE COMPARE TO GIDDEY?
There are glaring comparisons between Giddey and Daniels with out even pondering their abilities on the ground.
Giddey used to be now not anticipated to pass as excessive as he did, taken by the Oklahoma City Narrate with the sixth overall maintain terminate and Daniels is trending in opposition to a identical end result.
They’re also equally sized at 6-foot-8 and play with a comparable fashion, with an elite basketball IQ and selfless solution to the sport as pass-first guards.
“The similarities are about how they gaze on the sport as a team-primarily based sport pretty than an particular individual-primarily based sport and they fabricate other of us around them higher,” Marty Clarke, the NBA Global Academy’s technical director, told foxsports.com.au.
There are similarities between Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels’ sport. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Pictures)Provide: Getty ImagesClarke is aware of Daniels and Giddey’s video games well, having watched both carefully even sooner than they got here to the Global Academy.
He mentioned both are also “undoubtedly correct rebounders”, even though adding that it must also be a skill of Giddey’s that is underrated in comparability to Daniels.
“You look Dyson rebounding because at events he’s going to elevate spectacular rebounds and Giddey is extra about luminous where the ball goes to fall and being in the lawful location,” Clarke mentioned.
“However whenever you gaze at their rebounding numbers, they’ll be pretty identical.”
Defence is considered one of Daniels’ very top strengths and Clarke admitted he is “presumably a tiny bit bit forward” of Giddey in that respect.
“He’s a tiny bit bit higher athlete and a tiny bit bit longer but they both defensively search for the sport the identical,” Clarke mentioned.
“They know what’s going to happen sooner than it’s going to happen and they’re both gigantic leaders, teammates and now not frightened to recount of us this is what we’ve got to attain.
“I wouldn’t advise both of them are undoubtedly loud, aggressive leaders but when they keep up a correspondence of us hear.”
Dyson Daniels might maybe well be location to be selected throughout the prime 10. Credit score: NBA Global AcademySource: SuppliedPOTENTIAL DRAFT DESTINATIONS
Daniels is projected to be a main-10 maintain terminate at this year’s draft, even though the prime five looks to be locked in.
With that in ideas, gaze for the Australian to pass somewhere between No. 6 and No. 10, leaving Indiana, Portland, Fresh Orleans, San Antonio and Washington as doubtless landing spots.
Daniels has also labored out with Detroit (No. 5) and Fresh York (No. 11) while he had a workout deliberate with Sacramento but used to be compelled to execute it in consequence of damage.
Complicating issues even though is reporting from NBA insider Marc Stein that the Pacers, Pelicans, Blazers and Wizards might maybe presumably well change their picks for a to find-now equipment.
One NBA scout described Daniels as the form of participant “that can match proper into lots of assorted NBA programs” while talking to Yahoo Sports activities.
“He has gigantic measurement, can approach in as a secondary ball-handler and likewise presumably be an option on the soar with his versatility on and off the ball. He’s a participant that’s factual going to continue to make stronger and dangle a protracted NBA profession.”
For the time being, let us lock in these seven groups Daniels has labored out with between No. 5 and No. 11 as his most likely draft suitors.
Initiating with the Pistons, Daniels might maybe well be a stable match alongside remaining year’s No. 1 maintain terminate Cade Cunningham and must manufacture matchup complications with his measurement and defensive versatility.
The doubts over his 3-point taking pictures might maybe well be ample for Detroit to pass on him even though, especially given it is reportedly extra drawn to Jaden Ivey and Keegan Murray.
As for the Pacers, Daniels has drawn comparisons to Indiana point guard Tyrese Haliburton and would dangle to play extra off-the-ball alongside the 22-year-used.
Daniels has been engaged on his shot throughout the off-season even though so that bodes well for the Australian must he be drafted to Indiana.
The Athletic’s Bob Kravitz also reported that he used to be told Daniels “had considered a few of the easiest workouts lots of of us in the Indiana organisation dangle ever viewed”.
The Blazers might maybe well be any other interesting landing location for Daniels and his elite defensive capabilities approach he might maybe presumably well fabricate a appropriate away impact on the ground.
That will presumably well abet in promoting Daniels to Damian Lillard, who wants Portland to place him in a put to contend for the title.
It did gaze just like the Blazers were taking a gaze to change their No. 7 maintain terminate even though but their change for Jerami Grant on Thursday counsel in some other case.
That’s, except for for a memoir from Yahoo Sports activities’ Chris Haynes that the Blazers are “in pursuit” of Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby with the No. 7 maintain terminate.
Dyson Daniels in circulate for the Boomers in opposition to Fresh Zealand.Provide: Info Regional MediaAt the second, if the Blazers handed on him, the Pelicans gaze more doubtless to draft Daniels, who might maybe well be a precious asset to produce around its core of Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Herb Jones.
Namely, Daniels and Jones might maybe well be in a method to change on anybody, which might maybe presumably well presumably handiest raise Fresh Orleans’ versatility on both ends.
Daniels’ defensive versatility also makes him an even trying maintain terminate for the Spurs, who might maybe presumably well wait on from the Australian’s ability to impact worthwhile on both ends.
The 19-year-used told journalists he understanding he might maybe well be a correct match alongside Wizards celeb Bradley Beal must Washington elevate him with its 10th overall maintain terminate.
The Wizards even though are reportedly attempting to search out a “proven point guard” primarily based on Stein and must change their maintain terminate to attain so.
Daniels is now not more doubtless to smooth be on the board when the Knicks whisk on the clock but when he is it makes a good deal of sense for every facet.
It’s no secret Fresh York wants some extent guard and Daniels, who would wait on from constructing alongside RJ Barrett and Julius Randle, sees himself in that feature long-timeframe.
VERDICT: At this stage, the Blazers and Pelicans (No. 7 and No. 8 maintain terminate) gaze the presumably landing spots but the Raptors loom as a correct match if they change up.
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WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS SAYING?
While Daniels used to be continuously understanding about a indispensable-round prospect, it is handiest in the previous few months that his stock has undoubtedly risen — to the extent he generated “prime-five buzz” primarily based on Jonathan Givony.
Givony, along with Mike Schmitz, is considered one of ESPN’s leading draft experts and dangle Daniels now as the sixth-handiest available prospect sooner than Friday’s draft.
The 19-year-used had “primarily the most mediate about-opening workout” on the draft mix, where hopeful possibilities NBA got here collectively in Chicago to showcase their expertise to groups.
Daniels confirmed substantial enchancment in his shot-making on the event, handiest extra adding to his billing as considered a few of the easiest ceiling possibilities on provide.
“Daniels’ speak throughout the season has been spectacular to pass trying for,” Givony wrote on ESPN.
“It’s arresting to place a cap on how excessive his upside might maybe presumably well in the waste be, which is why every team selecting in the prime five can dangle to give him a protracted gaze to manufacture certain it isn’t passing on a most likely All-Star.”
As renowned by Daniels’ used coaches, Givony also believes that the Australian’s defence “will get him on the court early”, describing it as the 19-year-used’s “calling card”.
“He brings a uncommon combination of self-discipline, awareness and intensity on and off the ball that you most incessantly search for from 19-year-olds, persistently battling over screens, denying off the ball and mirroring smaller players with immediate hip turns and glowing feet,” Givony added.
Schmitz might maybe well be assured Daniels can dangle a appropriate away impact in the NBA and now not factual on the defensive dwell.
“He might maybe be very spectacular on both ends of the ground,” Schmitz told ESPN’s ‘NBA Nowadays’ in March.
“I mediate he is considered one of primarily the most complete possibilities. He’s 6’8 in shoes with a 6’11 wingspan, defends extra than one positions, can play 1-via-4 and then the IQ, the imaginative and prescient.
“He plays that unselfish fashion and might maybe presumably well presumably search for over the prime in the half-court offensively. He is an infinite guard.
“I’m undoubtedly impressed with his versatility and ability to impact the sport on both ends of the ground.”
Where will Dyson Daniels whisk in the 2022 NBA Draft?WATCH Dwell Coverage with ESPN on Kayo. Begins this Friday 9: 30AM AEST. Fresh to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >