The 2024-25 NBA Most-Improved Player award has put the spotlight on two outstanding contestants. The players have shown great performance in their NBA season, as they make award winning moves on the court, elevating their teams. Dyson Daniels, who was positioned as an anonymous player from the New Orleans Pelicans grew out his wings when he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks and aimed to rebrand himself. Ivica Zubac’s journey was one of consistent playing with the LA Clippers. Both players showing greatness, Dyson Daniels took the cup, highlighting his all-round development.
Dyson Daniels wins NBA’s Most Improved Player Award
Becoming the second player to be named the NBA’s Most Improved Player, in the Atlanta Hawks, the 1998 NBA season saw Alan Henderson as worthy of the accolade. Putting the Hawks on the pedestal in the 21st century, the 21-year-old guard was traded from the New Orleans Pelicans which was formed around Dejounte Murray.
The award winner, Dyson Daniels’ original 2022 NBA Draft selected 8th overall, allowed him to show hints of great strides in the New Orleans Pelicans until he was moved to the Atlanta Hawks. Dyson Daniels, alongside Nikola Jokić, became one of two players to be a finalist for multiple awards in the 2024-25 season.
Although he did not win the Defensive Player of the Year award, taken by Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers, he’s continued improvement brought him to this very moment. The Atlanta Hawks trusted him with a bigger role to play that pushed him to show growth in his offenses and keep his great defensive presence. This development is sign for a great future career.
Significant offensive and defensive improvement
Emerging to be one of the NBA’s most improved players, Dyson Daniels scoring grew from 5.8 to 14.1 points per game which is incredible and highlights his improvement as an offensive contributor. The Atlanta Hawks witnessed Daniels shooting efficiency improvement, with his three-point percentage taken to 34%.
Although showing an elevation in offense and scoring abilities, Dyson Daniels’ strong defensive abilities remained the pillar of his performance as a player. With great focus to his versatile abilities and perimeter defence, Daniels positioned himself as one of the league’s top young wing defenders. Helping the Atlanta Hawks to remain competitive, Daniels all-roundedness positions him as a rising basketball player.
The competitive award race: Dyson Daniels and Ivica Zubac
While Dyson Daniels showed great improvement in his wide perimeter scoring abilities and consistency is his defence, the runner up for the NBA Most Improved Player award, Ivica Zubac comes close in skill however far off in first-place votes. Daniels taking the win, his votes tallied to 44 first place votes with Zubac only getting 23 votes for first place.
Coming in third and showing great skill was the Pistons’ Cade Cunnigham, however shut down by the final two. Daniels’ all-round improvement in his offense and defence skills allowed him to rise to the top. Zubac, playing his ninth season showed a steady growth in his scoring from an average of 11.7 points per game to 16.8. Regardless of the growth, the votes favoured Daniels due to greater stride in his performance making him a key figure in the Atlanta Hawks.
The conclusion of the 2024-25 Most Improved Player award showed Dyson Daniels as the transformation the Hawks benefit from, from a small position as a rotation player to now being among the NBA’s exciting young players. With great leaps in his scores and the consistence defensive strength, Daniels has grounded himself as the second winner of the award from the Atlanta Hawks. Not neglecting the strong performance of Ivica Zubac, his improvement in average points placed him as a worthy contender. Daniels’ improvement being much bolder, the voters’ attention was captured and thus resulted in the win of Daniels.
