By Chalien Dantes

The Atlanta Hawks have locked in Dyson Daniels for the long haul, signing the young guard to a four-year, $100 million extension that keeps him in Atlanta through the 2029-30 season. Daniels’ agent hammered out the deal, securing a bright future for the rising star.

Over the past year, Daniels has transformed into one of the Hawks’ key players and quickly earned a reputation as one of the league’s toughest perimeter defenders. His defensive skills caught plenty of attention, finishing just behind Evan Mobley in the Defensive Player of the Year race.

Daniels didn’t just impress on defence, he led the NBA in steals per game with an eye-popping 3.0, snagging 229 steals over the season. That’s the highest total since Gary Payton’s legendary 1995-96 season. He also earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team and took home the Most Improved Player award for 2024-25.

Drafted eighth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022, Daniels struggled to find consistent playing time early in his career. Despite his defensive potential, he often found himself on the bench, unable to secure a steady role.

Everything changed when the Hawks traded former All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to New Orleans before the 2024-25 season. Atlanta made Daniels a priority and quickly brought him into their starting lineup alongside Trae Young, where he has since thrived and proved he belongs among the league’s best defenders.