Dyson Daniels, now thriving with the Atlanta Hawks, recently opened up about his struggles during his time with the New Orleans Pelicans.
In an interview with Marc Stein on Substack, Daniels described his two seasons in New Orleans as frustrating and tense, citing a lack of happiness with his performance and the team’s constant setbacks.
“I wasn’t happy with how I played my first two years in New Orleans,” Daniels admitted. “I was playing tense. I wasn’t happy with how I was providing for the team. I was fueled by that. I wanted to get back to being myself and playing free.”
The Pelicans, currently sitting at a Western Conference-worst 5-21 record, have once again been plagued by injuries and inconsistency.
Daniels, who was traded to the Hawks in the deal that sent Dejounte Murray to New Orleans, expressed relief at no longer being part of the franchise. “That organization’s cursed,” Daniels said with a wry grin. “Every year there’s something new. I’m happy I’m not there anymore.”
When asked to elaborate on the so-called curse, Daniels referred to his own injury history with the team. “I had like four or five ankle injuries down there as well,” he added, underscoring the physical toll his time in New Orleans took on him.
Since joining the Hawks, the former No. 8 overall pick has exceeded expectations. Daniels is averaging career-highs of 13.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 33.8 minutes per game, a significant improvement from his sophomore year averages of 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 22.3 minutes per game.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, continue to grapple with a revolving door of injuries to key players. Their inability to field a consistently healthy roster has hampered their progress despite having talented pieces like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
