Dash Daniels is already getting a lot of attention from NBA teams ahead of the 2027 NBA Draft. The young Australian player will be one of the players to watch during the 2026 NBL Blitz in Bendigo.

ESPN Basketball Insider Olgun Uluc reported on X that several NBA teams have sent representatives to Bendigo. They will watch Daniels and other NBL players during the five-day event. Six NBA teams are expected to keep a close eye on Daniels.

“Multiple NBA teams have representatives in Bendigo for the 2026 NBL Blitz to watch 2027 draft prospect Dash Daniels,” Uluc posted on X. 

In the same X post, Olgun Uluc also shared which NBA teams are already in Bendigo and which team will arrive later.

“I’m told the OKC Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, and Houston Rockets are here; the Miami Heat will arrive later in the week,” Uluc posted on X. 

So far, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets have sent representatives to the event. The Miami Heat will join them later this week.

This gives Daniels even more attention as he starts his 2026-27 NBL season with the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The NBL also said NBA scouts will watch all 10 NBL teams during the Blitz. Daniels is one of the main young players they will watch.

Another Next Star, Cairns’ Luke Paul, was also expected to interest NBA scouts but is sidelined with an ankle injury.

With six NBA teams watching him, Daniels is starting to build a strong name ahead of the 2027 NBA Draft. His progress in the NBL will be important as he continues to develop his game.

Why is Dash Daniels a 2027 NBA draft prospect?

Daniels started developing his game at the NBA Global Academy before moving to the NBL at just 16 years old.

As per an ESPN December 2024 report by Shams Charania and Jonathan Givony, he joined Melbourne United as an NBL Next Star during the 2025-26 season.

Daniels played 35 games and started 11 of them. He shot 36 percent from three-point range. His best scoring game came against the New Zealand Breakers, when he scored 14 points.

Daniels has also performed well on the international stage. He was named the top player at Australia’s 2024 U18 national championships. He also led the 2024 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in steals, averaging 3.6 steals per game.

The NBL Next Stars program has already helped several young players reach the NBA. The NBL said seven players from the program have been picked in the first round of the last seven NBA Drafts. That list includes LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, Ousmane Dieng and Alex Sarr.

For the 2026-27 season, Daniels joined the South East Melbourne Phoenix as an NBL Next Star.

Now, six NBA teams are watching him in Bendigo. The 18-year-old has a big chance to show his talent and improve his chances of being picked in the 2027 NBA Draft.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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