178: Dyson Daniels snatches FIVE steals against Pacers

• Daniels is leading the NBA in steals per game with 3.0
• On his current pace, Daniels will finish in the top 20 all-time for single season
• Daniels season high for steals is eight

Australian guard Dyson Daniels snatched five more steals against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday March 9, 2025 in Atlanta's 120-118 win at home, bring his total to 178.

He finished with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals.

Daniels is now tied for 137th all-time in steals for a single season with 18 games to go for the 30-34 Hawks.

It's the 12th time this season Daniels has had five or more steals in a single game.

He will finish the 2024-25 season as the NBA leader in steals. Daniels is 66 steals in front of second placed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (112) and Nikola Jokić (102), who are both the leading MVP candidates.

On March 4, 2025, he quite literally stole the win for the Atlanta Hawks against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday,  and then followed it up with another two against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Daniels stripped Desmond Bane clean with three seconds left on the clock as the Grizzlies tried to get the last shot and then fired full court bullet to Caris LeVert for the game winning lay-up. The Hawks stole it 132-130 for their 28th win of the season.

He had one steal on Friday, March 7, 2025 against the Indiana Pacers to take his steals tally in 2024-25 to 173.

Daniels is becoming a legitimate chance to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

“It’s cool just to be mentioned, my name, have it be mentioned in that category," Daniels told Hawks TV.

"Coming into the season, my goal was to be First Team All-Defense; and now the goal is Defensive Player of the Year.

"I think going out there: You can go for MVP, you can go put up shots, but defense, you’re not a detriment to the team if you’re playing defense. It’s gonna help the team, so there’s no real stat padding on defense. It’s going out there and it’s just making plays.

"For me, yeah, it’s a possibility, but I’m not too zoned in on it. I just wanna win games and playoffs is what we’re trying to get to.

"So, we need to win some more games.”

Daniels is ranked 12th in NBA history for most 6-steal games in a single season with seven. He's just one 6-steal game behind Michael Jordan in 1987-88 and 1990-91, Fat Lever in 1988-89 and Nate McMillan in 1993-94.

Alvin Robertson, who holds the record for the most steals in a single season with 301 in 1985-86 season when he won the Defensive Player of the Year award, holds the record with 13 in the 1986-97 season and 12 in '85-86.

Daniels, who has seven steals three times, now has more steals in a single season (167) than any player since the start of the 2019-20 NBA season. He is ranked equal 229th all-time in steals in a single season.

The 21-year-old has done it in just 54 games and is on pace to finish in the top 10 all-time for steals in a single season.

Daniels had an extraordinary seven steals against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

‍He had four steals against the Detroit Pistons a day earlier on Monday, February 24, 2025.

He's had 11 games this season with five or more steals. The next closest is just four.

If he plays the remaining 21 games in the regular season for the 27-33 Hawks and maintains his average of three steals per game, he will finish on or about 231 steals and in elite company.

231 steals puts Daniels inside the top 20 on the all-time single season list, ahead equal with "The Glove" Gary Payton, who is 19th.

Michael Ray Richardson is 10th with 243 in the 1984-85 season, Stockton is 9th with 244 in the 1991-92 season, 1986 Defensive Player of the Year Alvin Robertson is 8th with 246 in 1990-91 and Michael Jordan in 7th with 259 in the 1987-88 season.

Daniels season high in steals is eight against Joe Ingles' Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas Eve 2024. He had seven against the Detroit Pistons on November 9, 2024 and has six steals in four games, fives steals four times, and four steals nine times.

Daniels was involved in a significant trade that sent him to the Atlanta Hawks from the New Orleans Pelicans, where he continues to develop and contribute as a key piece of their young core. On 6 July 2024, Daniels, along with EJ Liddell, Larry Nance Jr., and Cody Zeller (via sign-and-trade), plus a 2025 first-round pick (via Lakers) as well as a conditional 2027 first-round pick were traded to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for veteran Dejounte Murray.

Daniels, drafted 8th overall by the Pelicans in 2022, found his way to Atlanta where he has flourished into a key player for the Hawks. Standing at an impressive 2.01 metres and weighing 90 kilograms, he possesses the physical attributes to compete at the highest level.

The 2024-25 season has been a breakout year for Daniels, with his statistics painting a picture of a player who contributes across the board. Averaging 13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists per game, and 3.0 steals per game, Daniels has established himself as legit two-way player. His field goal percentage of 47.4% demonstrates efficiency in his shooting, a crucial aspect for any guard in the modern NBA.

A closer look at Daniels' game logs reveals his consistency and ability to step up in crucial moments. On February 13, 2025, in a nail-biting overtime loss to the New York Knicks, Daniels put up an impressive stat line of 23 points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Daniels' versatility is perhaps best illustrated by his performances in February. Over a span of seven games, he averaged 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.

The development of Daniels' three-point shooting is an area of particular interest. While his current season average of 33.3% from beyond the arc indicates room for improvement, there have been games where he has shown flashes of excellence. For instance, in a victory against the Orlando Magic on February 11, Daniels went 2-from-3 from three-point range, hinting at his potential to become a reliable long-range threat.

Daniels' impact extends beyond the stat sheet. His court vision and decision-making have been crucial in orchestrating the Hawks' offence. With an assist-to-turnover ratio of over 2:1, Daniels has shown maturity in his ball-handling and playmaking abilities.

As the Hawks continue to build around their core players, Daniels' role is likely to expand further. His ability to play both guard positions provides the team with lineup flexibility. Moreover, his defensive versatility enables the Hawks to switch on screens more effectively.

Looking ahead, the ceiling for Daniels appears incredibly high. At just 21 years old, he has already established himself as a key contributor on a competitive NBA team. As he continues to refine his shooting and playmaking skills, Daniels has the potential to develop into an All-Star calibre player.

For the Atlanta Hawks, Daniels' emergence couldn't have come at a better time. As the team looks to establish itself as a perennial contender in the Eastern Conference, having a young, versatile guard with room for growth is invaluable. Daniels' ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor provides the Hawks with a foundational piece around which they can build their future.