The Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement with stand-out defender Dyson Daniels on a four-year contract extension worth $100 million. Daniels was a 2022 first-round pick (8th overall) by the New Orleans Pelicans. The Hawks acquired the 22-year-old Aussie as part of the 2024 Dejounte Murray trade.
Dyson Daniels’ Outstanding 2024-2025 Season
Daniels is coming of a breakout season for Atlanta. The third-year guard was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team, and he led the league in total steals (229) and steals per game (3.0). Daniels was a full-time starter for the first time in his career and averaged 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 0.7 blocks per game. He shot 49% from the floor and hit 34% of his three-point shots. Daniels received the George Mikan Trophy as the 2024-2025 Most Improved Player.
Atlanta’s 2025-2026 Outlook
The Hawks look to improve on a 40-42 record a season ago that saw them finish 8th in the Eastern Conference. They failed to reach the playoffs after losing to Miami in the second play-in game. The team heads into this season with backcourt of Daniels and 4-time All-Star Trae Young, and a front court of that will feature some combination of Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, Kristaps Porzingis, and Onyeka Okongwu.
It will be interesting to see what Atlanta looks like this season without veterans Clint Capela (Houston Rockets), De’Andre Hunter (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Caris LeVert (Detroit Pistons). The team has definitely skewed younger if you don’t count 30-year-old Porzingis’ 80-year-old knees.
If the 10-year vet can stay healthy, his scoring rebounding, and shot-blocking capabilities could be a big X-factor in whether the Hawks can make the playoffs. Jacob Toppin could also be a wild card. The 25-year-old only played in one game last season after coming over from New York, but in that game, he scored 17 points, hitting on five of his eight three-point tries, and grabbed four rebounds.
Getting Started
The Hawks will open their 2025-2026 regular season on Wednesday, October 22, at home against the Toronto Raptors. Atlanta heads into that game with no injuries currently listed on their injury report.
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