In a flip on the norm, Australia's newest top NBA draftee Dyson Daniels boasts a football background that has helped forge his basketball profession, and there's plenty of history to show it.
Daniels was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft on Friday (Australia time) joining the New Orleans Pelicans and star players in Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram.
The 202cm tall prospect will easily surpass the AFL's highest-paid players in the next 12 months, with his rookie deal with New Orleans coming in the vicinity of $4.4 million AUD per year.
Daniels was once on the path to a potential AFL career, having been a member of Victoria's Under-12s side seven years ago, rubbing shoulders with a bevy of current AFL-listed players.
That squad included the Essendon pair Ben Hobbs and Massimo D'Ambrosio, Bulldog Sam Darcy, Eagle Campbell Chesser, Giant Finn Callaghan, Hawks duo Josh Ward and Connor MacDonald, Port Adelaide's Dante Visentini and Demon Blake Howes.
Daniels, who hails from Bendigo, credited his Aussie Rules upbringing in playing a part in his journey to the NBA.
โI played AFL football growing up, so that is a physical and contact sport,โ he said, viaย news Corp.ย
โI think that helps me on the basketball court with my physicality and being able to read the game.
โOn the defensive end, thatโs where I like to bring it.
Nine players from Victoria's 2015 under-12s side were ultimately drafted to an AFL list.
Now, Dyson Daniels lands at the Pelicans with the 8th pick in the NBA Draft. Seen here sitting between Essendon's Ben Hobbs and Hawthorn's Josh Ward. @AFLcomau https://t.co/JKLjaAzhHg pic.twitter.com/ocrjr4ndXX
— Riley Beveridge (@RileyBev) June 24, 2022
โI can defend multiple positions, guard the ball, and even go down and guard the post sometimes.
โWith the ball in my hands, I can play-make, play without the ball, be a cutter, rebound and stuff like that.
โI feel like my game is very versatile and I could fit into a lot of different lineups with the great players that we have on this team.โ
Daniels becomes the newest Aussie import to land in the NBA, joining the likes of Ben Simmons, Josh Giddey, Matise Thybulle, Josh Green, Patty Mills and Joe Ingles.
He was also joined by Perth Wildcats rising star Luke Travers in heading into the NBA, with Travers selected with Pick 56 by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
