How Dyson Daniels put NBA ‘rookie wall’ in rearview

The Boomers World Cup hopeful sets a high mark, given the top-10 draft pick only turned 20 in March and is still in the formative stages of what promises to be a long basketball career.

“I wasn’t happy with how I finished the year, I felt like I could have made a bigger jump and helped my team better and now I’m hungry coming into year two,” Daniels said at a fan meet and greet at Melbourne’s NBA Store.

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“I definitely made improvement but I hit the rookie wall toward the end … and I was playing out there to not make mistakes, rather than play free.”

The fruits of an off-season dedicated to becoming “the best version of myself” were there for all to see at NBA Summer League when the Bendigo flyer exploded in Vegas, showing off an expanded game that featured more poise, improved playmaking and a tighter handle — along with his trademark already-elite defence.

“I come into this year with more confidence — I know I have a lot more to give,” Daniels, who averaged 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks across five Summer League games, said.

“Summer League was a good step, playing with the ball in my hands and I think if I’m able to go out there and be more aggressive it’ll help guys like BI (Brandon Ingram), Zion (Williamson) and CJ (McCollum).”

Daniels and Octagon sports agency stablemate Xavier Cooks have become fast friends, spending time together in the lead up to the Boomers’ August 1 World Cup camp.

Cooks, who franked back-to-back NBL titles and the league MVP into his first taste of the NBA with the Washington Wizards, is champing at the bit for the national selection camp.

The versatile 27-year-old big has never worn the green and gold in a FIBA sanctioned match, circumstances always conspiring against him — a torn meniscus cost him a World Cup berth in 2019, he was an emergency on the Tokyo ‘rose gold’ Boomers and little niggles have prevented him from playing in qualifiers.

“I made the team, then I didn’t make it the next time, so I’m really trying to get to that level,” Cooks said.

“Even just qualifying games, I’d put my hand up every time and I’d roll my ankle or something like that, so (it’s) just been an unlucky situation, but I’m excited to hopefully get there.

“It’s crazy but it makes the good moments so much sweeter knowing you had to go through the adversity.”

The pair is among the 18-member extended squad who are part of a text group fostering the famed Boomers culture, driven by veteran great Patty Mills.

“It’s special to have a culture like that the people before us have built,” Daniels said.

“We have a group text and we’re always talking about things we can do to be better, activities we can do to bring our culture and keep that going.”

Among the discussion in the group is the soundtrack to what will hopefully be a Boomers gold medal.

So who is the DJ?

Daniels: “Hopefully me.”

Cooks: “Patty.”

Daniels: “Me.”

Cooks: “It ain’t going to be you, bro, I’m telling you, it’s going to be Patty. They’ve already started making their little playlists and everyone puts in their three songs. You put your songs in?”

D: “Um, I’m going to request some Li’l Baby.”

X: “Only Australian artists.”

Basketball journalist

Michael Randall is a basketball reporter for the Herald Sun and CODE Sports, covering the NBL, WNBL, NBA and Australian senior and junior international and representative teams…. Read more

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