Dyson Daniels is a rising star in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks. He was the No. 8 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of a now-defunct Ignite of the G League. The Bendigo native comes from a basketball family as his father Ricky is a local legend who played professionally for the Bendigo Braves and now his three sons are carrying his legacy. The latest Daniels to join the ranks is a 17-year-old.

Meet Dash Daniels.

Dyson and Kai’s younger brother is considered to be one of the top international prospects in the NBA’s 2026 Draft Class! The 6-foot-6 playmaker has joined Melbourne United as part of NBL’s Next Stars program next season, as reported by ESPN. But it wasn’t an easy decision.

With multiple offers on the table, he and his dad narrowed it down to Melbourne, Perth, or college. After much deliberation, they reached a decision to stay in Australia and join Melbourne. “I am joining one of the toughest leagues in the world,” Daniels told ESPN. “Playing against grown men at a young age will only help me develop. The Next Stars Program has proven to help lots of young stars achieve their dream of playing in the NBA, which is mine also.”

Dash is following in the footsteps of lottery picks like Josh Giddey, LaMelo Ball, and Ousmane Dieng, who all made waves in the Australian League’s Next Stars program—clearly a proven launchpad for NBA talent. He will become draft-eligible in 2026, potentially one of the youngest picks in the one-and-done era.

Let’s hear more about the newest star to come from the Daniels household.

Dyson Daniels’ elder brother has high praise for Dash Daniels: “He’s … playing better than me or Dyson did at his age”

With all three brothers as hoopers, the Daniels household can become pretty competitive at times and this is partly the reason why they are making huge waves in the basketball world. While Dyson has already made it into the NBA, his brother Dash got a quick taste of the league when he attended draft night alongside his brother.

And it certainly has left him wanting more!

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“That’s the main goal to get to the NBA, and hopefully I can get there one day,” said the 17-year-old who aims to make that happen in 2026. Dash is already showcasing his NBA potential (grabbing the attention of several scouts along the way), averaging 3.6 steals per game at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 in Türkiye—an impressive stat for the youngest Daniels, considering his brother currently leads the NBA in steals at 3.0 per game.

Add in his 14.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, and it’s clear Dash is making a name for himself as a well-rounded talent. In fact, his oldest brother Kai thinks Dash is already a better player, comparing him to when they were of his age saying, “He is honestly playing better than me or Dyson did at his age.”

Much like his brother, Dash is also considered an elite-level defender with a plus-four wingspan and tremendous versatility. “We do have our similarities and differences,” said Dash about his brother. Although the two have a similar approach to defending and boast similar skills, Dash plays a bit more with the ball in his hands and creates for his teammates.

He has spent the past several years with the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, polishing and improving his game with Australian junior national teams as he now looks to take his career to the next step.