The Olympian and NBA player drops in to lift the lid on life in the US and give us an exclusive peek at his new label VOUSETI.

Though many dream of it, it’s pretty hard to imagine the journey of 21-year-old Aussie basketballer Dyson Daniels. Growing up in AFL-crazed Melbourne, he excelled in both Aussie rules and basketball, eventually choosing to follow in his father’s footsteps professionally (his dad was a former NBL player, FYI!).

From there his career has been one milestone after another, beginning his NBA career with the NBA G League Ignite in 2021, before being drafted eighth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022, where he was able to share the court with his heroes and get a taste of life as a bona fide superstar in his own right. Internationally, he’s earned a gold medal at the 2018 FIBA Oceania Under-15 Championship and debuted for the senior national team in 2021.

Now he has his attention set on the Paris Olympics where he will be a key component in the Boomers squad of 12 as they look to push Aussie basketball further into the international arena. On top of this, he’s also started his own label, Vouseti, which he wears in the pics below.

Head here to join the Vouseti community and check out our interview with Dyson below:

How have you adapted to life in the US? What do you miss most about Australia?

I’ve adapted to life in the US pretty well. I’ve been there for nearly three years now and have adapted to the culture there. The people, the food, it’s all a lot different. I do miss life in Australia, miss my friends back here, miss my family, so that’s probably the hardest thing.

The good thing is that I’m able to go to the US for usually six, seven months of the year then I’m back in Australia for four or five months, so I’m able to get the best of both worlds.

We hear that you’re a talented AFL player. Which AFL team do you support?

I’m a Richmond man, Tigers. I’ve been with them since I was a kid. I used to go to games with one of our close family friends. He got me on board when I was about six, seven years old, so I’ve been with them since, and they look after me when I come home with tickets and stuff like that, getting me down into the locker room. I miss my footy. I love playing footy.

What’s it like playing alongside the likes of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram?

It’s cool having superstars like Zion and Brandon on your team. You don’t often get to play with people of that calibre, and they’re great guys, they’re great people, and I think sometimes that gets overlooked – they just get seen as like superstars or superheroes. You learn a lot from people like them, their maturity, the way they approach the game, and I’ve taken a lot from them.

What’s been the biggest pinch yourself moment?

Since I started watching basketball as a kid, LeBron was playing in the NBA, and to be out there on the floor with a guy of that calibre is pretty special. We’ve had some good battles with him, had some good moments against him as well. So I think that’s my pinch myself moment, but just being around such talented guys and guys that you grow up idolising is pretty special.

What music is in your pre-game headphones?

Right now, I’ve got a lot of Rob49 going, New Orleans-based, I got a lot of Lil Baby, a lot of Future, a lot of Drake. They’re definitely the main guys that are hot right now.

What’s the best piece of advice you received on your way up?

That’s tough. I was around a guy named Garrett Temple in my first year. He’s been in the league for like 15-plus years now… There’s a lot more to basketball than just going out there and hooping, and a guy like that who’s played for so long, he taught me recovery, he taught me diet, he taught me to make sure I’m there on time, that I’m looking after my teammates, being a good teammate, and all those things are going to keep you in the league.

Who do you think is the GOAT? Who is the Aus GOAT?

My GOAT is LeBron. I think LeBron is the GOAT. He’s been in my generation. But the Australian GOAT has to be, I think it’s Patty Mills just because he’s won some rings. So Patty Mills is definitely the Australian GOAT.

How has the Olympic build up been? What does it mean to you to represent Aus?

Yeah, it’s been special. As a kid, you always dream of playing in the Olympics, and to have that right around the corner and the opportunity in front of me, I’m looking forward to that and going out there and having an impact. Last year, playing in the World Cup was a good learning step for me and it’s just given me a learning curve going into the Olympics, knowing what I have to do, knowing what the playing level’s like, and just getting familiar with playing with my teammates as well.

So it’s going to be special to be able to play in the Olympics, and like I said, that’s something I dreamed of ever since I was a little baby watching the Olympics.

Tell us about your new brand – what inspired you to start it?

My new brand, VOUSETI. I always had aspirations of being able to start a streetwear label and put my own ideas into action. Basketball has given me access to the world, experiencing clothing and culture. Inspired by the tunnel fits, I‘ve always wanted to have my own look…

VOUSETI is an extension of me and my style that I wanted to share with the world. I’m really happy with where it is at with the team and how I’m able to put my creative ideas into clothing and items.

Can you tell us what the name means?

VOUSETI is a brand that stands for You and I. It’s in three different languages, French, “Vous meaning You” Italian “E meaning And” and then the English “I”. It also just rolls well off the tongue and I’m hoping it can go a long way.

What are your ambitions for the label long-term?

I mean, we want this label to blow up, become a high-end label and maybe one day we can have stores, VOUSETI stores… a global brand that’s in all different regions. We want to build a community as well, a strong community that people are involved in and can have their say, and we can start to make changes based on what people want and what the public want, and that’s where we’re headed. If we’re able to get the name out there, get a positive community and take care of the community, they’ll take care of us. That’s the plan going forward.