Dyson Daniels set a Hawks franchise record with 229 total steals in his debut campaign for the organization.
Making an All-NBA Defensive Team is an incredible individual accomplishment, especially when considering only five players are awarded with that honor each year. This list puts a spotlight on the Hawks who have earned First Team selections throughout Atlanta’s 76 seasons.
Dan Roundfield (1980)
During the 1979-80 campaign, Roundfield earned his first of five consecutive All-Defensive honors after averaging 16.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.7 blocks per game across 81 appearances. ‘Dr. Rounds’ also made the first of three straight All-Star teams, finished fifth in MVP voting, and was awarded with the lone All-NBA (Second Team) selection of his 12-year career.
Dan Roundfield (1982)
Two years later, Roundfield posted 18.6 points, a career-high 11.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks a night to earn his second All-Defensive First Team award. He made the All-Star team for the third and final time while finishing 11th in the MVP race. The Detroit, Michigan native tallied 45 games with ten or more boards, including one outing with 20-plus rebounds.
Dan Roundfield (1983)
The following season, Roundfield was awarded with his second consecutive All-Defensive First Team selection, marking his fourth straight overall. He averaged a career-best 19.0 points with 11.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game across 77 appearances (76 starts) for Atlanta.
Tree Rollins (1984)
Rollins spent the first 11 seasons of his 18-year career with the Hawks after they chose him with the 14th overall pick in the 1977 NBA Draft. At age-28 during the 1983-84 campaign, the seven-footer averaged 8.6 points, 7.7 boards and 3.6 blocks per contest across 77 outings (76 starts), earning him a second straight All-Defensive award and the lone First Team selection of his professional tenure.
Mookie Blaylock (1994)
Blaylock was rewarded with the only All-Star nod of his career after averaging 13.8 points, 5.2 boards, a career-high 9.7 assists, and 2.6 steals per game across 81 appearances in 1993-94. ‘The Thief’ compiled 44 double-doubles and two triple-doubles while collecting at least one steal in all but three contests. Blaylock received the first of two consecutive All-Defensive First Team awards and finished seventh in the Defensive Player of the Year vote. The 212 total swipes he recorded that year ranks second all-time in Hawks’ franchise history just under Dyson Daniels’ 229 he set in 2024-25.
Mookie Blaylock (1995)
For the second year in a row, Blaylock earned First Team All-Defensive honors for his stellar 1994-95 campaign. The 12th overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft posted averages of 17.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.5 steals a night over 80 games. Blaylock tallied 20 double-doubles and two triple-doubles, and recorded at least one steal in 75 appearances, including nine outings with five or more swipes.
Dikembe Mutombo (1997)
The second towering center on Atlanta’s list for today, Mutombo earned his first All-Defensive First Team award in his debut season with the Hawks in 1996-97. ‘Deke’ averaged 13.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 3.3 blocks per game across 80 regular-season outings. He amassed 43 double-doubles and 20 contests with five or more blocks, and it was the sixth consecutive year in which he swatted at least 3.0 shots a night. Mutombo also made his fourth All-Star appearance and won his second career DPOY trophy.
Dikembe Mutombo (1998)
At age-31 during the 1997-98 campaign, Mutombo was every bit as dominant by putting up 13.4 points, 11.4 boards, 1.0 assists and 3.4 blocks per game while starting all 82 contests. The Hall of Famer won back-to-back DPOY awards, made the All-Star team for the fifth time, and was named to his first-ever All-NBA Third Team in addition to All-Defensive First Team honors.
Dyson Daniels (2025)
After spending his first two years primarily coming off the bench for the New Orleans Pelicans, Daniels broke out in a big way as a starter for the Hawks in 2024-25. Across 76 regular-season appearances, the Aussie racked up 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and a league-leading 3.0 steals per game, setting career-highs in each statistical category. Daniels was rewarded with his first All-Defensive (First Team) selection, was voted the Most Improved Player, and finished second behind Cleveland’s Evan Mobley for the DPOY trophy. ‘The Great Barrier Thief’ set a Hawks franchise record with 229 total steals in his debut campaign for the organization.
