Australian guard Dyson Daniels has a new home after being taken pick No. 8 in the 2022 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Daniels, 19, hails from Bendigo and most recently played in the NBA G League with the G League Ignite.
Initially touted as a potential lottery pick, Daniels rocketed up the board to be picked inside the top 10, something that seemed only a slight chance a few weeks ago.
Teams grew enamoured with Daniels' size at 6”8 with a 6”10 wingspan, while his defensive scope, court vision and selfless play helped him become an early pick.
He’ll join the likes of Josh Giddey, Ben Simmons, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Jock Landale, Patty Mills and Matisse Thybulle as Australians in the association.
Daniels was joined in the first round by New Zealand Breakers product Ousmane Dieng, with the French big man being taken pick No. 11 by the New York Knicks before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for future picks.
Dieng is the latest NBL product to join the league behind the likes of Giddey and Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball.
Earlier in the draft, Paolo Banchero went pick No. 1 to the Orlando Magic, while Chet Holmgren went pick No. 2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Jabari Smith Jr. No. 3 to the Houston Rockets.
Holmgren teams up with Giddey on the Thunder.
Top 11 of the 2022 NBA Draft
- Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)
- Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston Rockets)
- Keegan Murray (Iowa)
- Jaden Ivey (Purdue)
- Bennedict Mathurin (Arizona)
- Shaedon Sharpe (Portland)
- Dyson Daniels (New Orleans Pelicans)
- Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio Spurs)
- Johnny Davis (Washington Wizards)
- Ousmane Dieng (New York Knicks - traded to OKC)