By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
LAUSANNE (Switzerland) – There are families who just have basketball in their veins. The Daniels brothers prove that, representing Australia on the global stage, the sport runs through their blood.
Four years after his brother Dyson, Dash is also competing at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup with the Emus, following in the footsteps of his closest one – recently named Most Improved Player in the NBA, as well as being inserted in the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Just like Dyson, Dash has proven to be one of the most interesting defenders of the upcoming generation of international talents. It’s a matter of instinct, according to him.
“We both kind of have those instincts of our own. We kind of learnt it by ourselves and just ended up being pretty similar on the defensive end, getting steals and all that stuff,” the 17-year-old commented to Eurohoops.
“I think we both just read the game really well and know those spots where you can get those steals; how to pick on a guy, and if he’s not a great ball handler, how to get in his hips and make him uncomfortable. We just have those instincts,” Dash continued.
At the end of the day, getting steals is something familiar for both of them. While Dyson led the whole NBA in steals with 3.0 per game, Dash was the most in the same category at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, grabbing 3.6 per game with his country.
“It’s a lot of playing in the lanes and the gaps, knowing where the ball’s about to go. If the ball’s on the opposite side and they’re trying to feed the post, sometimes I can get around and steal that ball,” he first commented about the art of stealing.
“A lot of times, the guards might have the ball in the open space: I can poke it out and go get it. It’s just being able to read the game and know where the ball’s going next.”
“That’s the main thing: being that step ahead and just being able to get cheap steals and get out in the lanes, run in yourself,” Australia’s defensive specialist added. If he could steal something from his brother, then it would be impacting defensively in a different way.
“We’re both very similar. I’d say the way he can block shots, stay straight up, and use his body. At the end of those possessions, the end of those drives, being able to get up, block shots, and wall up. That’s something I’m trying to improve on, being able to get more blocks,” he said.
Having that last name might cause some extra pressure on Dash’s shoulders, but he’s trying to make the best out of it rather than getting uncomfortable.
“In the first year or two, I kind of thought a little bit too much about it; I struggled a little bit. But now I’m used to it. I just play my game. I do what I can. I embrace the pressure. Having a brother in the NBA is really cool, but at the end of the day, I’m my own person,” he said.
“I believe I’ve improved so much over the last couple of years, all around, especially offensively. I think getting in the rim a little better, shoot the ball a little better.”
“I’m always looking to improve. I think I’ve made so much improvement in myself, especially on the offensive end. It’s kind of crazy to think of my potential just from how much I can improve on that end,” Australia’s #6 also commented on his improvements.
While other players competing in Lausanne for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup have declared their intention to continue their career in the NCAA, like Hannes Steinbach, the 17-year-old opted for continuity, sticking with the NBL by joining the Next Stars Program.
“[I’ve seen] other guys go through the NBL Next Stars program over the last five years; we’ve had Josh Giddey, Alex Sarr, and a lot more highly talented players who turned into high draft picks. They’re now making an impact in the NBA as well,” he opened.
“That’s what I’m trying to do: make the NBA and not just make it there, try to make an impact as well. That’s the main thing that made me go to the NBL Next Stars Program.”
“Obviously, it wasn’t an easy decision. You’ve got the college options; you hold other options as well. But also, I would have had to wait another whole year until I was eligible to go to college. That set it back as well,” Dash Daniels continued.
“I want to make it to the NBA. I thought just playing pro as early as I can, just being out on the court against men and improving my game, is going to help me.”
While he will continue being one of the native faces of Australia’s basketball movement in the NBL, making his professional debut with Melbourne United to try competing at the highest level in the Oceanian league, he’s also aware of the league’s global exposure.
“It’s pretty special to see those International guys come into the NBL and make an impact as well. Karim [Lopez] is pretty much my age,” he expressed a first example.
“He’s already played a year in the NBL, and he’s doing fantastically. Being able to see him do what he does made it an easier option for me as well to go to the NBL, seeing the success he had in his first year. I’m trying to be that guy to have success,” he followed the way.
Overall, despite losing the opportunity of making it to the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup against Germany, his experience in Switzerland was another step towards maturity, repping the green-and-yellow national team’s jersey.
“Switzerland’s a great place, their basketball team has come a long way: beating France was huge. My experience here has been fantastic,” he commented before the Quarter-Finals.
“We’ve had a tough pool in the first three games: we had USA first, we lost to them by about 15, but we’re pretty proud of our performance. We know we can do better as well. Beating Cameroon, France, and the Dominican Republic was good”, Dash Daniels added.
Dash Daniels 🆚 Dominican Republic in 32 MINS:
14 PTS
6/14 FG
4 AST
2 REB
1 BLK
1 STL@NextGenHoops | #FIBAU19 pic.twitter.com/otYUploMC3— NBL Next Stars (@NBLNextStars) July 3, 2025
Against Germany, who won last year’s FIBA U18 EuroBasket, Australia’s approach eventually cost them the game. “We just started off slow. There’s not much we can really do. I thought the boys played tough,” he first commented in the post-game mixed zone
“We just weren’t really getting those calls. We were trying to drive in. We were trying to cause those fouls, but we weren’t getting them. We just started off slow, and we fought back in the end, but it just wasn’t enough.”
Despite the loss, his mentality stays the same. “I love going up against the best teams: the USA, France, Spain, highly ranked countries. That’s the team I want to play for because I want to be the best. To be the best, you have to beat the best. That’s what I’m thinking.”
His summer with the national team, however, is far from being concluded, as Olgun Uluc from ESPN Australia reported that he was included in Australia’s 14-man roster at the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. After the game with Germany, he confirmed it.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s gonna be my first step with the Boomers. It’s small stepping stones into hopefully the Boomers [playing] in the Olympics. Looking forward to it,” he said.
Ultimately, it will all be leading to what his brother Dyson has been achieving in the past few years, not only in the NBA. Playing under those five circles, for the Boomers.
Trying to follow the steps of countrymen of his who turned into role models, Dash Daniels dreams of writing impressive chapters for Australian basketball’s history. For example, doing even better than the third-placed team at Tokyo 2020.
“It hadn’t happened before, so everyone was pretty emotional, very happy and proud of our country and those guys,” he recalled of that achievement.
“Being able to see that put the standard even higher for us, over the next couple of years, to try and be that top three team, which I think we have the potential to be. We’ve got a lot of talented guys who are coming through Australia.”
Obviously, the main point of reference belongs to a specific person. “[Patty Mills] is the GOAT of Australian basketball. Being able to look up to him and watch the way he plays, how he builds his brand, it’s great to see,” he touched about the face of the Boomers.
Just like Patty and his brother, making it to the Olympic Games is definitely among Dash Daniels’ goals. Even sooner, without waiting for the Olympics to come to Brisbane in 2032.
“A huge goal of mine is to make the LA Olympics in 28. If I can make that, it’ll be insane. I’ll be super grateful; that’s what I’m working towards. After that, we got the Brisbane Olympics in 32. Obviously looking forward to that,” Daniels said.
“My ultimate dream is to be a gold medal team; being able to win the Olympics would be crazy. You can only dream of the highest. That’s what I’ll be doing.”
While the 17-year-old guard is building his future on defensive specialties, aggressiveness, and natural instincts for stealing opponents’ possessions, you don’t need to steal anything to dream big. Dash Daniels’ shaping his future of massive ambitions.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA