Dyson Daniels, the intriguing 6-foot-8 Australian prospect from the G-League Ignite, considers himself more a point guard but also views himself more a defensive player. Which is why the Knicks seem extremely interested, interviewing the 19-year-old Daniels on Wednesday at the league’s combine. The Knicks need a point guard after the Kemba Walker/Derrick Rose failure. And they need more of a defensive presence. “It’s always been my strength, playing 1 through 4 on defense,’’ Daniels said Thursday. “A lot of teams now have two, three defenders on the floor at all times — looking at Boston in the playoffs and Miami as well. But I’m a two-way player, able to play on both sides of the ball.’’
Dyson Daniels Rumors
Well, Doncic might be a stretch, but there is intrigue. Still, Daniels figures he could be there at 11 when the Knicks select. “I’m a big point guard at 6-7,’’ Daniels said. “It’s not hard to see over smaller defenders. If I get a smaller defender on me, I’m able to go down to the post and play down there. I’ve always been a point guard growing up. I had a growth spurt the last two years. I had the skills of a point guard. With the height, it’s an advantage in the NBA.’’
The Knicks need a true point guard and the draft is light in that department. The best point guard available didn’t play in college — Dyson Daniels of the G-League Ignite. Another fascinating prospect is Memphis one-and-done center Jalen Duren, but sources believe he’ll be too much of a project for Thibodeau to sign off on.
Dyson Daniels of the G League Ignite has entered the 2022 NBA Draft as an Early Entry candidate. Daniels played one season for the Ignite after coming to the United States from Australia.
Which countries have become relevant in the past five years? Chris Ebersole: It’s really hard to narrow it to certain countries because there’s obviously the countries that have sort of a history and tradition like Australia, for example, where we now have a lineage of young guards with Giddey in Oklahoma City, but also Daniels in the G League Ignite and a young player named Tyrese Proctor, who’s basically a senior in our program in Australia and now who’s has the opportunity whether he goes pro or whether he goes to college at a very high level following the footsteps of those players. At the same time, we have for example a young player, we call him DMX; his name is Derrick Michael Xzavierro from Indonesia, and he’s excelling with our NBA Global Academy in Australia, and he’s going to be a big-time player. Indonesia is not a market known for basketball talent at this point but in the future, there could be a ton of potential there, maybe young players looking up to DMX.
21 Feb
