It's been a collective group effort for the Atlanta Hawks to get to where they are now, and the proof is in. He has led the league in assists for most of the season, as sharing the ball has been the driving force behind his success. Everyone from guard to center is committed to passing, and that's a testament to how Quin Snyder wants them to play.
Dyson Daniels in particular has had a huge role moving the ball and his role has changed as the year has gone on. Since being included in the Trae Young trade, he has had the ball in his hands more, and is playing at a high level for his team. During the Hawks' seven-game winning streak, Daniels had 50 assists and only four turnovers, which is very efficient for a guard.
As for Daniels, he credits his IQ and his teammates.
"A lot of my game is trying to get into the paint and find my teammates, whether it's cutting, driving back, kick-out threes, things like that," Daniels said. "They make my job easier by spacing, and I think we look really good when we run in transition. I want to keep our turnovers low and get the assists, so I hope we can keep that going."
As far as his teammates, they've watched his progress in that role throughout the season, and it's no surprise to them what he's doing.
“He's really steady,” Nichelle Alexander-Walker said. "He gets into the paint the way he wants, and he's ready. He does a really good job of playing with two feet and staying in control, and I think that's why he's had success making plays for others, and he's really starting to slow down, and the game is starting to slow down for him too."
“Dyson has been huge for us,” Jalen Johnson said. "Not just on this winning streak, but all year long. Dyson brings every aspect of the game to the table, and he's a guy that's always ready to get better and always ready to learn. It's just a testament to the work he's done, and obviously, we need him to continue to be big for us."
Not only is Daniel doing so on the offensive side, but he is still being a pest on defense. Over the past seven games, he has had 18 steals, and he guards the team's best player almost every night.
After his best season last year, it almost feels like Daniel has gotten better, and he's been a big factor for them through all the changes this season.
