On August 14, Atlanta Hawks guard DaySean Daniels played a historic defensive performance in the 2024-25 season, but only received a 98 steal rating in NBA 2K26, tied for the highest with Matisse Thybulle.

Daniels averaged 3.01 steals per game, and his 229 steals in a single season were both league-best in the past 30 years, 98 more than the second-place finisher, creating the largest gap in history. His steal-to-foul ratio reached 1.31, the highest since Allen Iverson in the 2002-03 season.

Under Daniels' leadership, the Hawks' defensive rating improved from 118.4 to 114.8 , a 3.6-point improvement , ranking sixth in the league. The team also recorded 10 or more steals in 48 games, the most in the NBA this season and the second-most in team history. At just 22 years old, he twice won Defensive Player of the Month and broke Magic Johnson's record, becoming the youngest player in history to record 200 or more steals in a season.

He also blocked 55 shots this season and led the league in steals and blocks with 284, becoming the first guard to lead in those categories since Michael Jordan in 1988. Daniels is also the first player to record 200+ steals and 50+ blocks in a season, a feat only seven others have achieved. His 444 defensive interferences set a new record, and he led the league with 297 defensive stops and 81 loose balls.

According to data from the website, his steal rate is 3.7% , ranking him in the top percentile for combo guards, and his rebounding numbers are also impressive. He has recorded at least four steals in 27 games and at least five steals in 14 games , both of which are bests in over a decade. He is currently on a streak of 52 consecutive regular season games with at least one steal, firmly placing him among the league's top defenders, but he still hasn't earned the 99 rating that signifies ultimate defense.