Dyson Daniels studied Michael Jordan, Marcus Smart, Jaden McDaniels, Lu Dort defensively

Josh Robbins: Marcus Smart (right index finger injury management), Saddiq Bey (ACL recovery), Malcolm Brogdon (ankle sprain), Bilal Coulibaly (strained hamstring) and Corey Kispert (thumb surgery) will be OUT for Friday’s game against the Orlando Magic. -via x.com / March 20, 2025

Josh Robbins: Some interesting developments on the latest Wizards-Jazz injury reports for tonight’s game. Jordan Poole (right elbow contusion) has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable, and Marcus Smart (non-Covid illness) has been upgraded from out to questionable. Also, Utah’s Walker Kessler (rest) has been upgraded from out to available. -via Bluesky / March 19, 2025

Josh Robbins: Marcus Smart will not play tonight because of a non-Covid illness. -via x.com / March 17, 2025

“What do you think Jaden [McDaniels] is becoming as a player?” Anthony Edwards: “Oh man, he’s everything we need. I tell him, ‘Don’t stop being aggressive, don’t stop being aggressive,’ because when we play one-on-one, man, he’s the best player in the gym. So yeah, he’s everything we need.” -via YouTube / March 17, 2025

Anthony Edwards on Jaden McDaniels: “That play he made today—you know what I’m talking about, near the bench in the second half—was incredible.” “Yeah, that was crazy. I told him, ‘You looked like Pat Bev when he was 26.’ No, for sure.” -via YouTube / March 17, 2025

Jon Krawczynski: MIN 118, ORL 111 That was a hard-fought comeback for the Wolves’ 7th straight win. A ferocious 4th from McDaniels and DDV in particular, but really everyone. Edwards: 28p, 5a Randle: 22, 7r, 5a Gobert: 12p, 12r McDaniels: 11p, 8r, 3s, 2b DDV: 14p, 5a -via x.com / March 14, 2025

What’s it been like being the leader on this team with young guys around you in Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Zaccharie Risacher?  Trae Young: It’s not new territory for me. People probably know that this isn’t the first time I’ve been a part of a team with young guys and where they wanted me to lead. I think this is really what they wanted me to do this year. Not focus on the wins and losses. It’s more about how I can bring the young guys along and build them up and build their confidence up as much as possible. -via HoopsHype / March 28, 2025

How has it been for you playing with Dyson Daniels, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, in the backcourt?  Trae Young: It’s been fun building a rapport with Dyson. He’s a great young player who’s a smart player. Our games are very mirrored, like opposite, in a long of ways, and I feel like that’s where we can help each other when we’re on the court with each other. I look forward to continuing to build with him because he’s got a bright future for sure. -via HoopsHype / March 28, 2025

It’s rare when a guard wins Defensive Player of the Year, so where do you feel you are in the conversation, and what’s your case?  Dyson Daniels: I feel like it’s a big man’s award. If you look at the big men in the NBA today, usually the past few years, it’s been a big man in that conversation who protects the rim and gets blocks. Obviously, before Wemby (Victor Wembanyama) went down, he was the frontrunner for the award. I think I do a little bit of everything on the floor. I protect the rim as a guard. I get steals. I defend well one-on-one and contest shots. I don’t want to talk about it too much. I let the people see it for themselves. -via HoopsHype / March 28, 2025

Wade made it clear that while Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA with the Wizards was impressive, LeBron’s sustained excellence is unparalleled. “No. I mean, MJ averaged 20 when he came back, and he was STILL very good, but LeBron has stayed at a level that we haven’t seen,” Wade said. “The conversations of greatness—he makes it hard. All the older guys before were like, ‘It’s about Wilt, it’s about Kareem, it’s about these guys,’ but because of his consistency… I mean, he’s averaging 30 points per game in his 20th year in the league!” -via ScoopB.com / March 28, 2025

“The coverage of the NBA in my opinion has been the same since I arrived in the NBA and I grew up as a youngster watching the NBA,” said Perk. “Magic Johnson, was he not criticized? Kobe Bryant, was he not criticized? Michael Jordan, was he not criticized? Allen Iverson, he was criticized. So in today’s game these players are so sensitive that it just don’t make any damn sense.” -via The Shadow League / March 28, 2025

Kendrick Perkins: “But let me say this, Molly. MJ is petty as hell, too.” “If you go in my closet, it’s nothing but Jays. I keep Jays on my feet. I was signed to Jordan for about two years when I was playing.” “I wore Jays throughout my time in Oklahoma City. I used to get boxes in the mail before the shoes hit stores.” “I started my media career, and as soon as I said LeBron James was the GOAT—those boxes stopped coming.” -via YouTube / March 27, 2025