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Hawks' defensive star emerging as legitimate two-way threat
Dyson Daniels’ defensive dominance has been a defining storyline of the Atlanta Hawks’ season. The 22-year-old guard is experiencing a historic campaign, leading the NBA with a franchise record 217 steals—by far the most in the league—and the highest single-season total since Chris Paul’s 216 in 2008-09.
The Australian now sits just seven steals away from passing Michael Jordan’s 223 from the 1990-91 season, a milestone that would place him in the top 25 all-time for single-season steals. The all-time record belongs to Alvin Robertson, who recorded an astonishing 301 steals in 1985-86.
Whether disrupting passing lanes or applying relentless on-ball pressure, Daniels has cemented himself as one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders.
But while his defensive impact has made headlines, his evolution into a two-way force has been just as impressive. Once viewed primarily as a playmaker with limited scoring ability, Daniels has developed into a legitimate offensive weapon.
Dyson 3 for the LEAD pic.twitter.com/qK95NK0rbE
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 3, 2025
Averaging a career-high 14.2 points per game on 49.3 percent shooting, he has expanded his scoring arsenal. His 1.1 made three-pointers per game mark a significant step forward, and he has now recorded twelve 20-point outings this season—including a career-best 28-point performance in a win over the Boston Celtics on Nov. 12.
His offensive strides have been especially evident in recent weeks. He closed out March and opened April with back-to-back 22-point performances against the Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers.
On Apr. 2, he followed up with a solid 17-point outing, shooting 7-of-12 from the field and knocking down three three-pointers. Since the All-Star break, Daniels has been shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc, further showcasing his offensive growth.
This evolution has transformed Daniels from a defensive specialist into a well-rounded two-way player. His ability to generate turnovers and push the tempo in transition has made him a crucial piece of Atlanta’s game plan.
With his game reaching new heights, Daniels is proving he has the potential to be one of the NBA’s most dynamic two-way guards. If he continues on this trajectory, he won’t just be a defensive ace—he’ll be a player capable of shaping games on both ends for years to come.
More must-reads:
- Dyson Daniels, Draymond Green named Defensive Players of the Month
- Hawks’ postseason plot thickens after home loss to Blazers
- The '2022-23 leading scorer for each NBA team' quiz
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The 'NBA playoff point-per-game leaders' quiz
With Luka Doncic signing a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers, the succession plan for The King in Los Angles is officially in place. With LeBron James entering the final year of his contract with the Lakers and turning 41 years old this season, the Lakers secured the services of another generational player to build a title contender around. After his shocking trade from the Dallas Mavericks in the middle of the 2024 season, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 28 regular season games in purple and gold. Despite losing to the Timberwolves in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, he played a whopping 41.6 minutes-per-game while leading L.A. in points and assists-per-contest. Which brings us to today’s quiz. Doncic is only 26 but already has five All-Star selections, five All-NBA designations, a scoring title and one NBA Finals appearance to his name. With that being said, can you name the players to lead each NBA playoffs in points-per-game? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Justin Fields Called 'Biggest Loser' In Jets Training Camp
The New York Jets opted to cut Aaron Rodgers and sign Justin Fields to replace him during the offseason. This kind of commitment to Fields should bolster his confidence, but it could also place a lot of pressure on his shoulders. To this point, Fields has looked solid in training camp, aside from a scary toe injury that was quickly resolved in July. Justin Fried of the Jet Press recently reported that Fields' training camp may have reached a new low over the weekend as the young signal caller struggled. "Justin Fields put together his best practice of the summer to this point on Friday, completing his first 12 passes en route to an excellent all-around performance. The same can't be said about his showing on Saturday, however," Fried wrote. "Fields finished the day an abysmal 2-of-10 in the air, including a drop from rookie tight end Mason Taylor. "Some of his incompletions were catchable balls, but the Jets' passing game struggles on Saturday can largely be blamed on No. 7. Fields did flash his running ability with a 25-yard rushing score on the first play of red-zone drills, but the Jets would like to see more consistency in the air from the starting quarterback. Saturday's scrimmage was far from his best showing of the summer." Fields is a runner first at the NFL level, but his arm is nothing to scoff at. For most of training camp, his arm talent has been better than advertised, but during Saturday's scrimmage, it just wasn't there. A 2 for 10 performance is unacceptable for a $40 million quarterback who was signed to take over the team. The running game should open up the passing game for the Jets, which is going to need to be the case if Fields is going to struggle like this. However, it's just one day of camp. It's nothing to be too concerned about. Just because Fields lost this specific practice doesn't mean he's heading in the wrong direction as a whole.
Cowboys former first-round pick forced to leave practice due to injury
Injuries have been a prevailing theme for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. They’re still without Trevon Diggs, Shavon Revel Jr., and Josh Butler, which has thinned out the secondary. On offense, they’ve had better luck but still lost starting left tackle Tyler Guyton for several weeks. Now another projected starter had to leave practice on Monday. 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith had to visit the medical tent, then headed to the locker room following the examination from the team’s medical staff. Smith is entering his third season in the league, and can ill-afford to miss time. He’s been struggling to hold down a starting spot and enters the preseason in danger of losing his job. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 337 pounds, Smith was brought in to be a run-stuffing nose tackle. Through two years, he’s been unable to find his footing, recording 54 tackles and two sacks. It’s not fair to place all of the blame on Smith, however. He’s been asked to perform different roles under three different defensive coordinators. Dan Quinn had him playing as an attacking 3-tech in 2023 while Mike Zimmer placed him in a more traditional 1-tech role. Smith performed better under Zimmer, but is asked to do more attacking under new coordinator Matt Eberflus, which has put his struggles front and center once again. Should he miss extensive time with this injury, it could be devastating to his chances of keeping the starting job.
Texas' Arch Manning has concern on OL after season-ending injury
Texas, the No. 1 team in the preseason coaches poll, has a big concern for its offensive line with a few weeks to go before it opens the season at Ohio State on Aug. 30. Per On Texas Football, right tackle Andre Cojoe suffered a season-ending injury. Per On3, the injury is believed to be a torn ACL. The third-year offensive tackle has played in four career games and was competing with Brandon Baker for the starting job on the right side. "Texas O-lineman Andre Cojoe suffered what’s feared to be a torn ACL, Inside Texas has learned," wrote Eric Nahlin of On3. "Cojoe was in competition with Brandon Baker for Texas’ right tackle role during preseason camp. Baker is set to win the starting job with Cojoe out for the season. The second-year offensive lineman played in eight games for the Longhorns in 2024, including against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal. The loss of Cojoe is a big blow to the Longhorns' depth on the offensive line that is tasked with protecting quarterback Arch Manning. On3 projects true freshman Nick Brooks to become the swing tackle behind Baker and starting left tackle Trevor Goosby, a tall order for an 18-year-old in the SEC. Texas comes into the season with high expectations in Manning's first season as a full-time starter. How comfortable Manning is behind his offensive line will play a key role in how efficient the offense is. Texas ranked 118th in sacks given up in 2024 with 37. Those hits took a toll on Quinn Ewers, who played through injuries while leading the Longhorns to the CFP.
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