Dyson Daniels has been named the Kia Defensive Player of the Month (Eastern Conference, October-November), the NBA announced today. See below for stats from Daniels' historic start to the 2024-25 season.
By the Numbers
57 Steals
- Most steals in the NBA and 16 more steals than the next closest player
- Also recorded 18 blocks, becoming the first player since Michael Jordan in 1988 to have at least 57 steals and 18 blocks through the first 19 games of a season
128 Deflections
- The most deflections in the NBA and 56 more than the next closest player
- Entered the month of December only 143 total deflections away from passing last season's total deflections leader (De'Aaron Fox: 270)
75 Stocks (steals + blocks)
- Ranked first in the East in total stocks and second in the entire NBA, trailing only San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama
Noteworthy
- Recorded 6+ steals in four straight games (11/8/24-11/15/24), becoming the second player in the NBA since 1973 to have at least four straight outings with at least six steals (Alvin Robertson: 6, 11/15/86-11/28/86)
- Secured 15+ points and 5+ steals during that time, the longest such streak since Michael Jordan in 1990
- Through his first 10 games of the season, notched 36 total steals, tied with Don Buse (1976, Indiana) for the second-most steals within a player's first 10 games with a team: Alvin Robertson (37, 1989, Milwaukee), Dyson Daniels (36, 2024, Atlanta), Don Buse (36, 1976, Indiana)
- Per NBA.com/stats, Daniels only allowed 13 total points on 24 possessions when guarding in isolation, the second-fewest points by any defender in the NBA and fewest in the East (min. 20 possessions, as of 12/1).
Individual Games
11/12 at Boston
In the Hawks’ first NBA Cup victory en route to winning East Group C, on 11/12 at Boston, Daniels finished with a career-high 28 points, seven assists, six steals and three rebounds in 41 minutes … At 21 years, 240 days, Daniels became the youngest player in the NBA since LeBron James (19 years, 349 days) to record those minimums in a single game.
11/8 at Detroit
Against the Detroit Pistons on 11/8, Daniels tallied seven steals and two blocks, becoming the third-youngest player in the NBA since at least 1973-74 to notch at least seven steals and two blocks in a game (21 years, 236 days), trailing only Magic Johnson and Tyus Jones ... His seven steals on 11/8 are the most in a single game in the NBA this season.