Pelicans Scoop

Daniels Coming Into His Own As Key Reserve

Rookie Dyson Daniels has already shown he can be impactful in limited minutes for the Pelicans with his versatile, all-around game.

David Grubb

Daniels Coming Into His Own As Key Reserve
Daniels Coming Into His Own As Key Reserve /
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Dyson Daniels hasn’t had any games that statistically jump off the page at first glance. 

The rookie guard has appeared in only seven of the Pelicans’ first 15 games, and until this current three-game stretch, Daniels hadn’t played in consecutive games all season.

Coincidentally, the Pelicans are undefeated in those three games (5-2 overall, 4-1 when he plays 10 minutes or more).

Dyson Daniels
Nov. 16, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels (11) shoots the ball against Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond (3) during the fourth quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Again, the stats aren’t eye-popping in the box score. Daniels is averaging 3.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 0.7 blocks per game in just over 12 minutes per night.

But over the last two games in particular, his play has been tremendous in displaying Daniels’ high level of feel for the game, basketball IQ, and defensive prowess.

Flash back to Tuesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. 

With 3:19 remaining in the third quarter, Daniels checked in with the Pelicans holding a narrow 82-81 lead.

Following a three-pointer by Memphis that gave them a two-point advantage, Daniels responded with a three of his own to allow New Orleans to retake the lead.

He added three rebounds to his stat line to close the quarter with the Pelicans up two.

Daniels opened the fourth with his first assist of the night, finding CJ McCollum to double the lead, putting New Orleans ahead 91-87.

On the very next possession he grabbed a defensive board before throwing it ahead to Jose Alvarado who dished it to Naji Marshall for a layup. 

In under a minute the lead had grown to six and the Grizzlies were forced to call a timeout.

When Daniels finally checkout out of the ballgame with 4:46 remaining, the Pelicans were up seven and on their way to closing out an impressive 11-point victory.

In just under 12 minutes of action with Daniels on the floor, New Orleans limited Memphis to 5-of-22 shooting (22.7) and seized control of what had been a back and forth affair since the opening tip.

He finished with three points, a team-high nine rebounds, as well as one assist, one steal, and one block, logging a +13.

Against Chicago, Daniels was limited to just 18 minutes due to foul trouble, but still made an impact.

Defensively, he made life miserable for the Bulls just as he did against the Grizzlies and added Zach LaVine to the growing list of NBA stars who have had the ball taken or their shots rejected by the rookie.

He still managed to post four points, four rebounds, and two assists to help the Pelicans improve to 9-6 with Boston and Golden State remaining to close out the current home stand.

Undoubtedly, Daniels will play a role in deciding those games.

Prior to being drafted by the Pelicans, Daniels was asked which NBA player his game most resembled. His answer was a name familiar to Pelicans fans…Lonzo Ball.

It was an interesting comparison, considering that the Pelicans were anticipating the return of Zion Williamson, and Ball’s game had complemented Zion’s very well during their brief time together. 

Larry Nance Jr., who played with Ball while the two were with the Lakers, sees the similarities.

“(The comparison)’s very valid,” he said on Tuesday night. “Obviously, Zo, I got to see him fresh out of UCLA so getting to see Dyson in the same position is…that’s a good one. That’s a really good one.

It’s just that kind of basketball knack and instinct that you can’t really teach. He’s got all that and a nose for the ball. There’s a lot of teams in the league that he would be playing huge, regular minutes for.”

Hopefully, the days of Dyson Daniels earning a DNP-CD have ended and the Pelicans have found, in one special young player, a potential jack-of-all-trades that can not only support the team’s current core, but join it in the future.

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David Grubb
DAVID GRUBB

Pelicans Scoop writer and 'Hard in the Paint' Podcast host.

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