Why Dyson Daniels could be overlooked for DPOY, even in a historic year

On Monday night, Dyson Daniels reinforced his status as one of the NBA’s premier defensive playmakers, tallying an impressive seven steals to propel the Atlanta Hawks to a 98-86 victory over the Miami Heat. 

Just one shy of his career-high, the performance marked Daniels’ 11th game this season with five or more steals — more than double the total of any other player in the league, with the next closest sitting at four such games.  

According to the NBA, the Australian became the fifth player since the 2000-01 season to record 11 or more games with at least five steals in a single campaign. The elite company includes Chris Paul (twice), Allen Iverson, Larry Hughes and Monta Ellis.  

Since the All-Star break, Daniels has been on another level defensively, averaging 4.7 steals per game. That surge has elevated his season average to 3.1 steals per game and his total to 163 — by far the highest marks in the NBA. For comparison, the next closest player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has 104 total steals.  

The 6-foot-7 guard also recently surpassed a major milestone, setting the record for most steals in a single season by any player since 2019-20. He is on pace to eclipse Paul George’s mark of 170 steals from the 2018-19 season — a feat that seems inevitable at this stage.  

While Daniels’ numbers are staggering, breaking into the all-time leaderboard will be a steeper challenge. The single-season record belongs to Alvin Robertson, who recorded 301 steals in 1985-86. To crack the top 25, Daniels would need to surpass Michael Jordan’s 223 steals from the 1990-91 season — an ambitious but not impossible goal. 

Despite his historic defensive impact, Daniels’ candidacy for Defensive Player of the Year may face roadblocks. The award has traditionally favored big men, and with Victor Wembanyama sidelined due to injury, frontrunners include Jaren Jackson Jr. and Evan Mobley — both of whom play for winning teams. The Hawks currently sit at 27-31.  

The last guard to win DPOY was Marcus Smart in 2021-22, and before him, the league had not honored a guard with the award since Gary Payton in 1995-96. While Kawhi Leonard (2014-15, 2015-16) and Ron Artest (2003-04) claimed the title as small forwards, the award has overwhelmingly favored big men over the past two decades.  

Still, Daniels’ case is undeniable. If he continues this level of dominance, he may force voters to reconsider the league’s long-standing bias. Whether or not he takes home the hardware, one thing is clear — Daniels has already etched his name into the NBA record books and is rapidly emerging as one of the most disruptive defenders of his era.