Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels has goals on court, in community

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels’ reputation as an elite defender grew last season when he was named to the 2024 NBA All-Defensive second team. Off the court, he is hoping to defend Minneapolitans from frigid winter elements that are on the way as well.

McDaniels’ inaugural Jaden’s Winter Essentials Drive began on Nov. 18 and lasts through Dec. 6. The native of Federal Way, Washington, is encouraging Timberwolves fans and locals to donate new and gently used winter items such as boots, hats, globes, mittens, scarves and snow pants of all sizes to local Hy-Vee grocery stores. McDaniels donated $10,000 to purchase additional winter and family items and delivered 500 new winter coats in partnership with Operation Warm in January in Minneapolis. He has also done similar winter clothing drives in Seattle.

“I haven’t hosted a basketball camp yet and I wanted to do something different than to give back with basketball,” McDaniels told Andscape. “And Minnesota, just being how cold it is every day, I need my big coat out here. The kids probably need double the amount that I gave [in January]. I’m just trying to give back to the community. Some of those kids are my fans.

“It’s just good to see my face on [the coat drive ads]. I’m just letting them know I’m helping them and looking out for them.”

Being selfless is also McDaniels’ defensive reputation on the court with the Timberwolves.

McDaniels averaged 23.3 points when he was a senior at Federal Way High School in Washington and once scored 51 points in a game. He also averaged 13 points as a true freshman for the University of Washington during the 2019-2020 season. Whether in high school or college, however, the 28th pick in the 2020 NBA draft took pride in defense, too.

Defense has been McDaniels’ calling card in the NBA.

The 6-foot-9, 185-pounder was a part-time starter during his first two NBA seasons, showing the most promise as a long and versatile defender. With scorers Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell as teammates during his early seasons, McDaniels keyed on defense to become a starter full time during the 2022-23 season.

He hasn’t left the starting lineup since.

“You got to know your body. Know what you are good at,” McDaniels said of his keys to being a solid defender. “I’m quick, but I’m not as fast as a little guard. So, when I go against a little guard, I just know I got to give him some space, use my length. I can stick my arm out and you’re still not going by me. And then just for bigger dudes, I think about what I would do if someone was guarding me.

“So, when I’m playing versus people and they drive, I know they’re going to try and bump. That’s what I would do. So, I kind of pull the chair guarding them. So, when they try to bump, they find your body and end up falling down there. So, just little stuff.”

McDaniels said that it takes humility at times to being the four or fifth option on offense. But “the mental game” has helped him defeat those thoughts and he understands that defense is his superpower. The Timberwolves signed McDaniels to a five-year, $136 million contract extension on Oct. 23, 2023.

“Low-key, you got to accept the role if you want to play. In certain situations, with me coming here right away, I guess if they needed scoring they had Ant [Edwards], KAT [Towns] and D-Lo [Russell],” McDaniels said. “So, we needed somebody else to play defense. I always played defense my whole life. So, it wasn’t a hard transformation. But I still got my offensive bag and want to still show it. It’s just not the time right now.

“You got to really be mentally tough to play defense and run up and the down the court a couple times and maybe not touch [the ball], shoot a couple corner 3s. You got to be mentally tough for sure.”

McDaniels was named as NBA All-Defensive second team selection for the first time last season after receiving the ninth-most votes. His 6-foot-11½-inch wingspan has been key in him being a lengthy defender, a rim protector and able to get steals. While stoic in nature and slim in build, McDaniels plays with toughness and a feistiness. He can defend elite shooting guards such as Devin Booker, Jamal Murray and James Harden and tall scoring forwards such as Michael Porter Jr. and Kevin Durant.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch told Andscape that “every team needs a Jaden McDaniels.”

“His willingness to take the toughest matchups and fit seamlessly into any lineup speaks to the type of quality person and player he is,” Finch told Andscape. “I love how his inner feistiness sets a tone for our guys. He’s just so damn competitive on the court yet is such a soft-spoken, sweet, kind young man off it.”

“Last season, I blocked [Denver Nuggets forward] Aaron Gordon in the playoffs and it felt like LeBron [James] in the [2016] NBA Finals block. Guarding Jamal Murray, KD and Devin Booker in the playoffs is showing the versatility,” McDaniels said.

After advancing to the 2024 Western Conference finals, McDaniels and the Timberwolves were projected to have a potential franchise-altering season. Edwards, a two-time All-Star, and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert are back. Minnesota made a major change before the season, acquiring three-time All-Star forward Julius Randle and veteran guard Donte DiVincenzo for Towns. With Gobert anchoring the paint, McDaniels is taking the tough wing defensive assignments.

Minnesota (UPDATE RECORD), however, has been disappointing so far entering Friday’s game against the LA Clippers (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET).

“We’re kind of struggling right now, but it’s still early,” McDaniels said. “We’re still in a good spot. The West [conference standings] is so tight. If we go on a five-game streak, we can be back in the top seven. We’re getting it together.

“If we get rebounds and get possessions, we can beat anybody. It just shows how good we can be when we play the best teams. We just got to take care of the other teams. Don’t play down to the lesser teams.”

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There was good news for McDaniels since he was able to celebrate Thanksgiving in Minneapolis with his family instead of in the team hotel on the road.

McDaniels told Andscape on Monday that his parents, Will McDaniels and Angela Jackson, are slated to be among the 10 family members in town for Thanksgiving. He was hoping that his brother, G League Capital City Go-Go forward Jalen McDaniels, could attend. Jaden McDaniels also has a new member of the family: infant son Mekhi.

“I love Thanksgiving. You get to eat all the good food with your family and chill and relax,” McDaniels said. “My mom and dad should be here and hopefully my brother can make it. We’re adding a new one to the family. I wish he could eat some of the food. He is missing out this year.

“In a McDaniels household during Thanksgiving, there is always a lot of people at the crib. Cousins and family gathering. Everyone is chilling and eating food and we get done late. We probably won’t be done eating food until 9:30, 10 at night. All of the family is around. It’s a regular Thanksgiving.”

McDaniels credited his parents for his unselfish mentality.

In September, McDaniels and Timberwolves mascot Crunch attended the Be the Change MN Back to School soul food picnic at Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary School in North Minneapolis. He also takes pride in helping his family and friends in need. But selfishly, in a good way for the Timberwolves, he is eyeing making NBA All-Defensive first team for the first time this season.

“That is one of my goals, being first-team,” McDaniels said. “I was second-team last season. It’s a big goal. First-team, we take it first step by step. For me, I guard the best players. I’m not shutting them down, but I make it tough for them. I make their [shooting] percentages lower.

“If they shoot 10 shots, I make them miss 20 or 30. [Defense is about] being a presence. Being really relentless on defense no matter what.”