Dyson Daniels is having the type of defensive season that the NBA hasn't seen in a very long time. Now that Victor Wembanyma is out for the remainder of the season and unable to reach the 65-game threshold, there is no real reason why Daniels shouldn't be considered the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY).
Rob Tribble, filling in for The Steakhouse, discussed his potential candidacy after his late-game heroics propelled the Hawks to a comeback win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Simply put, the NBA's best perimeter defender plays in Atlanta.
Daniels' NBA-leading 170 total steals lead the second-placed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by 60 and he also adds about one block per game. With numbers like that, there's no reason that he shouldn't be considered the frontrunner for the league's premier defensive honor.
"That's just something you can't coach, it's just knack," Tribble said about the consistent performance of Daniels on the defensive end this season after he won the game for Atlanta last night.
However, working against Daniels are two (somewhat ridiculous) things outside of his immediate control.
Firstly, the DPOY has been given to a guard just twice over the last thirty years (Marcus Smart in 2021-22 and Gary Payton in 1995-96). Bigs are routinely given the benefit of the doubt in this regard because of their focal role as "stoppers" in the paint who elevate the whole of a defense.
Secondly, the Hawks might hold him back. While improved on the defensive end this season, the Hawks still carry a middling 114 defensive rating (18th best in the NBA). Additionally, they are still below the .500 mark on the season and are likely going to a play-in team for the fourth year in a row.
In contrast to Daniels, Evan Mobley (power forward for the first-place Cavaliers) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (center for the fourth-place Grizzlies) would fulfill these, what should be, otherwise meaningless prerequisites. According to the DPOY odds on Fox Sports, those two will be his primary competition to bring home the honor with Mobley sitting as the favorite (-185), Daniels in second (+400), and Jackson in third (+500).
Regardless, Daniels has been a fearsome defender for the Hawks this season and he will almost certainly be a finalist for the award. While it remains to be seen whether he may break through and win the award after his first season in Atlanta, his impact on the Hawks cannot be understated.
The Steakhouse discussed whether Dyson Daniels should be considered a front runner for the Defensive Player of the Year.
