Although there is a valid argument that Ivica Zubac should have won the Most Improved Player of the Year award for last season, Dyson Daniels had just as strong a case, with a campaign that was also finalized for Defensive Player of the Year. Overall, either player had an equal chance of winning, and Daniels was a solid pick.
One of the reasons Daniels won was his strong perimeter defense. He is a sensational defender who has a comparable IQ to Marcus Smart, in his prime with the Boston Celtics, except Daniels is longer, stronger, and led the NBA in steals, making him the champion of the season in that category.