When the Boomers took the court at the Paris Olympics, Dyson Daniels realised a dream that had consumed him since childhood. For the 21-year-old guard from Bendigo, Victoria, representing his country on the grandest stage in sports was the culmination of years of sweat, sacrifice, and a singular focus.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of people,” Daniels reflects, the gravity of the experience still fresh in his mind. “To experience my first Olympics at such a young age is a dream come true, and it’s something I want to do plenty more times.”
The Boomers may have fallen short of their medal aspirations, bowing out in the quarterfinals, but for Daniels, the experience was nothing short of transformative. “The Olympics is such a big build-up, and there’s always going to be some added pressure,” he adds. “The way I dealt with it was by relying on the work and preparation I put in leading up to it. After that, it’s all about confidence and self-belief.”
Daniels’ journey to the Olympics was far from a straight path. Drafted 8th overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022, he found himself thrust into the spotlight of the NBA, a league where the transition from potential to performance can be unforgiving.
Early in his career, Daniels was forced to prove his worth in the G League and during brief stints off the bench. Yet, those who have followed his trajectory closely have seen the quiet intensity with which he approaches the game – a trait that has begun to pay dividends, both in the NBA and on the international stage.
At the Olympics, Daniels found the FIBA ruleset a natural fit for his style of play. The international game, with its emphasis on ball movement, strategy, and team cohesion, allowed Daniels to showcase his full range of skills. “I think my game thrives when we have to play in more of a system where the ball flies around, gets through hands, and you have to make quick decisions,” he explained. “The FIBA game is a lot slower, and therefore more strategy is involved, which is where I thrive. Whereas playing in the NBA, it’s more about playing off your superstars, which can sometimes be a little more difficult.”
His performance in Paris, highlighted by a clutch buzzer-beater against France in a preparatory game, was a testament to his growth as a player. It also offered a glimpse of the potential that has made him a key piece of Australia’s basketball future.
Despite his international success, Daniels remains undeterred by the limited opportunities he has seen in the NBA thus far. “I wouldn’t call it frustration,” he notes. “If I don’t play as much as I want, it’s more just added motivation. I know my time will come if I continue to put in the work and develop. I believe in my capabilities, and I think it started to show in my Olympic Games. I’m looking to build on that and take a big jump heading into my NBA season.”
For Daniels, the Olympics were not just about personal growth but also about embracing the broader experience of representing his country. With the 2028 Los Angeles Games already on his radar, his ambitions are as clear as they are lofty.
“The Olympics is all about medals and representing your country with pride,” he said. “One thing I want to take more advantage of in the 2028 Olympics is getting out to see more of the sports and supporting the other Aussie athletes. In Paris, we were in another city for most of the Games, but hopefully in LA, we can be in the main village the whole time. It’s an experience I want to fully immerse myself in.”
Daniels’ perspective on the game is shaped not only by his experiences but also by his admiration for those who have come before him. As discussions around the 2024 Team USA lineup – the so-called “Avengers of Basketball” – dominated headlines, Daniels offered his own analysis. “This USA team is the best USA team ever. You can see it by the way some games Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid didn’t even see the floor. That was an MVP a year ago, and Tatum was an NBA champion this year, and they struggled to get minutes. You just look at the roster from top to bottom – there are no holes in it. It’s hard to compare them to the Dream Team and Redeem Team as it’s two different eras. But I think this is the hardest era to play in, and if I had to choose, I’d say this is the best team for sure.”
Since being drafted by the Pelicans, Daniels has navigated the complex world of professional basketball with the same determination that propelled him to the Olympic stage. Playing alongside franchise-defining superstars like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, Daniels has experienced firsthand the challenges and rewards of life in the NBA.
“Growing up, I always dreamt of playing in the NBA. Getting drafted to the Pelicans and being on a team with some of my favourite players to watch, like Zion and BI, was super fun. I used to watch Zion’s high school highlights and loved watching CJ [McCollum] and Dame [Lillard] back in their Portland days. To be able to play with them and have that friendship for the rest of my life is something I will always cherish.”
But life in the NBA is nothing if not unpredictable. With a recent trade to the Atlanta Hawks, Daniels is preparing for a new chapter in his career. While excited about the move, he acknowledges that leaving New Orleans comes with a sense of loss. “This was my first NBA team, and they took me in like family,” he says, a note of wistfulness in his tone. “I’m definitely going to miss the people in the organisation and my teammates. Also going to miss the great food spots in New Orleans, which I was becoming very accustomed to. I always miss Australia – miss my family and friends and being able to go and support my Tigers. But most importantly, I’m looking forward to my new life in the A. I’m sure it will be super fun.”
Off the court, Daniels has channelled his creative energy into another passion: fashion. His streetwear label, VOUSETI, is a reflection of his travels, his personal style, and his belief in the power of community. “VOUSETI stands for connection – YOU AND I,” Daniels explains with the same enthusiasm he brings to his game. “It’s a mix of ‘vous’ (French for ‘you’), ‘e’ (Italian for ‘and’), and ‘I,’ symbolising how we’re all in this together. The brand is about bringing people together through community and style.”
The journey to VOUSETI, which launches this week, has been a steep learning curve — requiring Daniels to balance his NBA career with the demands of fashion design, marketing, and legal work. “It’s been a lot of meetings and strategic planning, much like basketball,” he says. “There’s so much behind-the-scenes work that I never knew I would have to do. It’s been a lot of designing, a lot of marketing, and legal work with trademarks and terms and conditions. We are setting it up right from the start for long-term success. I’m super happy with where it’s at and how the products have come out. It’s not long now until the launch of my debut collection, so I’m really excited to get it out to the public and build our community.”
As Daniels continues to navigate the evolving landscape of his career – balancing his aspirations on the court with his entrepreneurial ventures off it – one thing is clear: this young Australian is just getting started.
With the Olympics behind him, a new NBA season ahead, and a burgeoning fashion label in tow, Dyson Daniels is poised to be a force for years to come. His journey, from the G League grind to the global stage, is a testament to the power of perseverance, self-belief, and the unwavering pursuit of greatness.
