Bogdan Bogdanovic scores 14 points in Serbia’s opening game loss to Kevin Durant, Team USA at 2024 Summer Olympics

The Atlanta Hawks have two players who play on the world’s biggest stage. Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia) and Dyson Daniels (Australia) played well, but Bogdanovic and Serbia had a huge challenge today in their Summer Olympics opener against Team USA. Bogdanovic and Nikola Jokic were no match for Kevin Durant, LeBron James and the rest of Team USA today, as they came away with a resounding victory.

Bogdanovic was Serbia’s second-leading scorer today, with 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting (2-of-6 from three-point range) and six rebounds. Jokic was Serbia’s leading scorer, with 20 points.

Serbia’s next match will be against Puerto Rico on July 31 at 11:30 a.m.

Yesterday, Daniels and the Australian team played Spain and Australia won 92-80. Daniels led the charge for Australia, scoring 14 points on 5/9 shooting (3-4 from three-point range), seven rebounds and two assists. Daniels was also terrific on defense and contributed to the win over Spain

While basketball fans know that Daniels is already one of the best defenders in the NBA, some have questions about his three-point shooting and that’s what’s most catching my attention right now. I’ve always hoped that Daniels would take over the starting spot next to Trae Young, but for him to do that, he had to be able to shoot. So far this summer, he’s done that and today he was shooting 40 percent from three-point range. If he keeps doing that, I can’t tell you how much that would raise the Hawks’ ceiling this year.

Australia’s next match will be on July 30 against Canada.

Daniels was the best player the Hawks got from New Orleans in the Dejounte Murray trade and was praised for his defensive abilities. Hawks general manager Landry Fields spoke to the media after the Murray trade and said Daniels’ defensive abilities were one of the things that intrigued them when they got him in the trade:

“His defensive versatility is something that really stands out. His shot has improved, which is something we think can improve over time as he develops. So we’re able to help him stay the course defensively and make some adjustments offensively.”

So far in the Olympic exhibition games, Daniels has shown why he could be a vital piece of the Hawks’ future. While Daniels is already an elite defender, his ability to be a consistent shooter has been questioned. This summer, Daniels has been a solid three-point shooter while not losing a step on defense.

In exhibition games for Team Australia, Daniels has averaged 10 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game, along with three steals per game. He is shooting 49% from the field and 40% from three-point range and if those numbers hold up, the Hawks must be excited about what Daniels could bring to the team this season. Daniels is coming off his best game when Australia took on France, scoring 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 2-of-4 from three-point range. He also has five steals and five assists.

Now Daniels has to prove he can do it at the NBA level next season, but there is enough evidence to prove it. I think Daniels and his skills are a perfect match for Trae Young and the Hawks should consider playing him next to their starting point guard. Young has never had an elite defender like Daniels next to him and as long as Daniels can shoot at that level and stay on the court, the Hawks defense can go from being a terrible defense to a much better one.

The question heading into next season will be whether the Hawks start Daniels alongside Young or bring him off the bench. One could consider starting Zaccharie Risacher or Bogdan Bogadanovic alongside Trae in the two-guard role, but Daniels would provide the best defense. Bogdanovic was great as a backup last season and should remain in that role in my opinion while Risacher could start alongside Daniels and Young.

Daniels played in 61 games (including 16 as a start) during the 2023-24 season, posting career-highs of 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals in 22.3 minutes. He scored 10 or more points in a career-best 13 games during the 2023-24 campaign, scoring a career-high 17 points against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 12.

A 2024 Panini Rising Star, Daniels recorded 1.4 steals per game during the 2023-24 campaign, which ranked 10th in the NBA, and posted a .341 steal percentage last season, which ranked fifth in the league (min. 50 GP). He recorded a career-high six steals at Utah on Nov. 25, becoming the only sophomore to steal at least six steals in a single game last season and one of only two freshmen or sophomores to do so, joining Victor Wembanyama. He recorded all six steals in the first half, tying him for the most steals in a single half in the NBA last season and tying him for the second-most steals in a single half in New Orleans history.

Selected eighth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Pelicans, the 6-foot-1 guard has career averages of 4.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 20.0 minutes in 120 games (including 27 starts). Prior to the Pelicans, he spent the 2021-22 season with NBA G League Ignite, where he was named to the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars roster.

The acquisition of Daniels has gone unnoticed around the league, but it could make a huge difference for the Atlanta Hawks.