The race for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award is always at the forefront of discussions every season, but this year, a new name has entered the fray. While names like Victor Wembanyama, Bam Adebayo, and Rudy Gobert dominate the conversation, they are not the only ones in the running.
Gobert, Adebayo, and Wembanyama are all considered some of the top defensive big men in the league, and centers often have an advantage when it comes to voting for DPOY. Gobert has won the award four times in his career, while Adebayo and Wembanyama are staples in discussions.
This year, though, there’s a guard that has made enough noise to put himself firmly in the running.
Ben Simmons Picks Dyson Daniels for DPOY
The Atlanta Hawks have had an up-and-down season, but they do have some great players on the roster. While Trae Young is considered the Hawks superstar, Atlanta has vital pieces that help bolster their offense and defense.
This season, the anchor of their defense has been shooting guard Dyson Daniels, who has been a reliable partner for Young in the backcourt, guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player. The Australia native has become a defensive maven for the Hawks this season.
Fellow Australian and three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons thinks that Daniels has been phenomenal this season; in a recent interview with RG, he gave a strong endorsement for Daniels to win the DPOY award.
“Dyson’s just been killing. He’s been all over it — Defensive Player of the Year for me,” Simmons said. “It’s hard not to give it to him. I think he’s just everywhere. He has great hands, and he’s really guarding everybody.”
Simmons has been regarded as a talented defensive player throughout his career, so there is credence in his ability to identify defensive talent when he sees it. Daniels has been impressive this season, and Simmons wanted to give him his credit.
Daniels’ Impact on the Atlanta Hawks
Daniels is currently averaging 13.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 47.9% from the field this season, but his impact comes from his ability to watch the ball and disrupt the offense.
Daniels is averaging 3.0 steals per game, a rate that leads the league. Daniels has had some standout performances this season with 12 games of 5+ steals and 24 games of 3-4 steals, which definitely helps his case for DPOY.
Will Daniels take home the DPOY trophy this year? The man known as “The Great Barrier Thief” has a very good case, and if he continues at this pace, he should be considered a frontrunner.