Dyson Daniels’ DPOY case exposed in play-in game vs. Heat

Dyson Daniels is a dark horse candidate for Defensive Player of the Year after leading the NBA with three steals per game. But two play-in losses have exposed the limits of Daniels’ defensive talents.

Tyler Herro scored 30 points as the Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks Friday night, 123-114. That’s after Cole Anthony lit up the Hawks for 26 points in 20 minutes as the Orlando Magic beat the Hawks, 120-95, in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in game Tuesday. That’s not a great argument for Daniels’ defensive value.

Daniels steals the ball a lot. His 3.01 steals were the best league-leading total since Alvin Robertson averaged 3.04 back in 1990-91. But that doesn’t mean Daniels is disrupting opposing offenses like a rim protector, or even locking up the other team’s top perimeter.

Part of that is his size. Daniels has long arms, and he’s very quick. But he’s not all that strong or great at navigating screens.

Wiggins drills the 3 as Miami jumps out to a 10-0 start #SoFiPlayIn on TNT | Winner gets 8 seed pic.twitter.com/uACjJ8ORLe

— NBA (@NBA) April 18, 2025

These weren’t incredible offenses, either. The Magic score the third-fewest points in the NBA, and they went for 120. The Heat are in the bottom seven teams in points.

Daniels is an exciting player, and at age 22, the “Great Barrier Thief” has plenty of room to improve. But he’s not one of the NBA’s most impactful defenders yet. Perhaps if he were, the Hawks would still be playing.