After being recognised for his rapid rise by being crowned the NBA’s Most Improved Player, the message from Dyson Daniels was clear: There’s plenty more improvement to come.

The Australian defensive ace became the first Aussie to snare the prize off the back of a superb campaign in his first season with Atlanta after being traded out of New Orleans.

The 22-year-old narrowly missed out on Defensive Player of the Year honours, finishing second behind Cleveland’s Evan Mobley when that award was announced last week. But he wouldn’t be denied in Most Improved stakes, with his 44 first-place votes almost double that of the 23 received by runner-up Ivica Zubac of the LA Clippers.

Daniels averaged 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game - up from 5.8 points, 3.9 boards and 2.7 assists the previous season. But it was a league-best 3.0 steals per game that commanded the attention of the league.

The Bendigo product’s 229 total steals marked the highest number by any NBA player in a season since legendary defensive guard Gary Payton’s effort from 1995-96.

Daniels, who is spending the first part of his off-season in Australia after Atlanta failed to progress past the NBA’s play-in tournament, said he was thrilled to have made the most of an increased role with the Hawks after struggling to find a significant place in New Orleans’ rotation.

“I felt like I kind of went in there (at the Pelicans) and wasn’t myself… I feel like I kind of took a backseat role,” he said.

“When I came into this third year (in the NBA), I wanted to really put my foot down and go out there and show what I could do.

“I think it was just a small step in the right direction this year, and I feel like I’ve got a lot more in me.”

Daniels said being aggressive and “not caring about making mistakes” had been his mindset since landing in Atlanta, with his confidence also fuelled by an encouraging Olympic campaign with the Australian Boomers in the lead-in to the season.

The versatile stopper said his sights were now set on becoming the first-ever player to be named Most Improved twice among a list of lofty career aims.

“I really believe I could win this award twice. I know I’ve got so much more left in me,” he said.

“It’s going to be about taking that next step next year and setting new goals.

“I want to be an All-Star in this league. I want to be a championship player.

“I set the bar high. It’s about going out there and executing that now.”

The honour marked just the second time an Australian has won one of the NBA’s top individual awards. Current Clipper Ben Simmons was named the league’s Rookie of the Year for his 2017-18 campaign with Philadelphia.

Josh Giddey rounded out the top 10 in Most Improved voting after stepping into a starting role with Chicago following his trade out of Oklahoma City.