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[Saba Sports News] Dyson Daniels has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the 2024-25 NBA season, and he partly credits his success to leaving behind what he sees as a “cursed” situation.
Now with the Atlanta Hawks, Daniels is thriving, averaging career highs of 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists through 24 games.
His biggest impact, however, has come on defense, where he leads the league in steals at an impressive 3.0 per game. If he maintains that average, Daniels would be the first player in over 30 years to achieve such a mark, making him an early favorite for a 1st-Team All-Defense selection.
Daniels’ knack for swiping the ball has also earned him one of the NBA’s best new nicknames: “The Great Barrier Thief.”
In an interview with NBA reporter Jake Fischer, Daniels reflected on his former team, the New Orleans Pelicans, attributing his turnaround to escaping the so-called “curse” of the organization.
“That organization’s cursed,” Daniels said. “Every year there’s something new. I’m happy I’m not there anymore.
“The curse, man. I had like four or five ankle injuries down there. There’s something in the water or something. They’ve got hamstrings, knees, concussions—you name it. They get everything down there. I don’t know what it is. Playing hard, I guess?”
Daniels was traded to the Hawks in the offseason as part of the deal that sent Dejounte Murray to New Orleans. Ironically, Murray suffered an injury in his very first game with the Pelicans.
The Pelicans’ injury woes have continued, with their All-Star trio of Murray, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson still waiting to play a single game together. Williamson, in particular, has struggled to stay healthy, with his recurring hamstring issues symbolizing the team’s recent misfortune.
Daniels’ “curse” theory may be tongue-in-cheek, but given New Orleans’ track record, it’s not far-fetched to understand his perspective.