Dyson Daniels
Daniels in 2022
No. 11 – New Orleans Pelicans
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2003-03-17) 17 March 2003 (age 21)
Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight199 lb (90 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2022: 1st round, 8th overall pick
Selected by the New Orleans Pelicans
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022NBA G League Ignite
2022–presentNew Orleans Pelicans
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Australia
FIBA Oceania U15 Championship
Gold medal – first place 2018 Papua New Guinea

Dyson James Daniels (born 17 March 2003) is an Australian professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted eighth overall in the 2022 NBA draft.

Early life and career

Daniels was born in Bendigo, Victoria and started playing basketball at age seven.[1] He signed with the Bendigo Braves, his father's former team, of the NBL1 for the 2019 season.[2] Later that year, Daniels joined the NBA Global Academy, a training center at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.[3] He helped Victoria win a silver medal at the 2021 Australian Under-20 Championships.[4] Along with basketball, Daniels was a talented Australian rules footballer in his younger years and represented his home state of Victoria at several national football championships[5] before giving up the sport to focus solely on basketball.

Professional career

NBA G League Ignite (2021–22)

On 21 June 2021, Daniels signed with the NBA G League Ignite, a developmental team affiliated with the NBA G League.[6] He turned down offers from several college programs and the National Basketball League Next Stars program.[7] Daniels competed in the Rising Stars Challenge at 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend and helped his team win the title. In 26 games in the G League, he averaged 12 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and two steals per game. On 16 April 2022, Daniels declared for the 2022 NBA draft.[8]

New Orleans Pelicans (2022–present)

Daniels was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans.[9] Daniels joined the Pelicans' 2022 NBA Summer League roster. However, Daniels suffered a right-ankle sprain in the second quarter in the Pelicans' Summer League opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, forcing Daniels to be ruled as out for the rest of the Summer League.[10] On 9 July 2022, Daniels signed a rookie scale contract with the Pelicans.[11]

National team career

Daniels represented Australia at the 2018 FIBA Oceania Under-15 Championship in Papua New Guinea. He averaged 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, helping his team win the gold medal.[12] On 20 February 2021, a 17-year-old Daniels made his debut for the Australian senior national team at FIBA Asia Cup qualification.[13] He recorded 23 points, six steals, and four assists in an 81–52 win over New Zealand.[14]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 New Orleans 59 11 17.7 .418 .314 .650 3.2 2.3 .7 .2 3.8
Career 59 11 17.7 .418 .314 .650 3.2 2.3 .7 .2 3.8

Personal life

Daniels' dad, Ricky Daniels, is from the United States and played college basketball at NC State before embarking on a professional career.[1] He was a two-time South East Australian Basketball League MVP with the Bendigo Braves, and his number was retired by the team.[15] Daniels' older brother, Kai, plays college basketball at Regis University.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b "Boomers' phenom will have you shouting "Damn, Daniels!"". FIBA. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  2. ^ Iles, Kieran (26 February 2019). "Dyson Daniels keen to forge his own identity with Bendigo Braves". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. ^ Garlepp, Josh (1 March 2020). "Dyson Daniels is the NBA Global Academy's latest star, with an admirable goal in mind". Fox Sports. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  4. ^ Bourke, Adam (8 May 2021). "Daniels dominates for Victoria at national championships". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  5. ^ Tuckerman, Raelee (3 June 2015). "Dyson sports Big V". Bendigo Advertiser. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  6. ^ "International Standout Dyson Daniels Signs With NBA G League Ignite". NBA G League. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  7. ^ Givony, Jonathan (20 June 2021). "NBA's G League Ignite sign first highly touted international prospect in Australia's Dyson Daniels". ESPN. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Australian guard Dyson Daniels, the No. 10 prospect in the ESPN 100, to enter the 2022 NBA draft". ESPN. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  9. ^ "New Orleans Pelicans select Dyson Daniels with 8th pick in 2022 NBA Draft". nba.com. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  10. ^ Mosley, Kyle T. "Pelicans Dyson Daniels Injured in His First Summer League Game". Sports Illustrated New Orleans Pelicans News, Analysis, and More. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Pelicans sign Dyson Daniels". www.nba.com. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Dyson Daniels (AUS)'s profile – FIBA U15 Oceania Championship 2018". FIBA. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  13. ^ Ward, Roy (19 February 2021). "'He's kind of unique, a throwback': Dyson Daniels follows in Ben Simmons' footsteps in making Boomers debut". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  14. ^ Kidane, Benyam (20 February 2021). "Dyson Daniels leads young Aussie Boomers to impressive win over New Zealand in FIBA Asia Cup qualifier". Sporting News. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Dyson Daniels to emulate his father, Ricky, and play for Braves". Bendigo Advertiser. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Dyson Daniels". Pro Insight. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2021.

External links

New Orleans Pelicans roster
2022 NBA draft
Categories