Chosen by the Pelicans with the 8th pick in the 2022 Draft, Dyson Daniels had a full season on an individual level with a real role in the rotation of Willie Green, where he was able to show his activity and his qualities.
If there were any good times, like when he had 14 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists in the victory over Toronto in early December, in the middle of a six-game series where he was 27 minutes from playing time on average, the back mainly confided to having learned from more difficult moments.
Dyson Daniels mentioned two moments in particular: when he missed two free throws 1.6 seconds from time that cost the Pelicans victory over the Lakers in early November, and the day Devin Booker caught fire scoring 58 points, mid-December, his “Welcome To The NBA” moment.
“It was really a bad moment for me”, he notably told ESPN about the game lost to the Lakers. “We lost the game when we should have won it. I had two free throws seconds from the end to close the game. I missed both, they called a time-out, then they scored a big 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. We learn to live with those moments. It was a great learning moment for me. What is good with our team is the cohesion, it’s different. They raised my head in the locker room, the coaches spoke to me.
The Summer League to regain confidence
After taking the time to take stock of his rookie season, Dyson Daniels has thus switched to his “Year II” which he intends to approach with one objective: to play more, he who saw his playing time collapse at the end season and who did not come into play in the play-in match lost by the Pelicans against OKC, while his compatriot, Josh Giddey, had shone (31 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists).
“Once the season was over, I was able to take a few days off and take stock, it was a kind of relief. I felt like I was a bit erratic, I think there are things I could have done better, but it was good to know what I need for the second season and what that I need to improve”he added. “I want to be on the pitch to play. I understand that I didn’t necessarily play well before and that, as a rookie, it can be difficult to put you on the field in important moments, especially if you are going through complicated times. So I understand, but it’s disappointing. Especially knowing that Josh set us on fire.”
To start off on the right foot, Dyson Daniels intends to be there for the Summer League, “to take the team in hand and show that I have progressed in my game”he concluded.
| Dyson Daniels | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2022-23 | NOP | 59 | 18 | 41.8 | 31.4 | 65.0 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 3.9 |
| Total | 59 | 18 | 41.8 | 31.4 | 65.0 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 3.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
