There’s something inherently funny about seeing Jaden McDaniels walk expressionless during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ starting five announcements. The Target Center crowd reached a crescendo as the Wolves’ PA announcer belted out his name. Still, McDaniels never reacted to the madness as he strolled through a line of his teammates before Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets.
Everyone knew Jaden McDaniels wouldn’t offer an expression, even as the Wolves presented him as a marquee player. Injuries had removed Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu, and Donte DiVincenzo – 40% of Minnesota’s scoring – from the starting lineup. Even with a foul-plagued Game 5, the Timberwolves needed him to be a two-way star.
Still, McDaniels never wore the burden of that responsibility. He also didn’t react to the hype of the Target Center crowd treating him as a rising star. He walked into the arena, clocked in, and delivered. McDaniels had a team-high 32 points in 45 minutes, while also guarding Jamal Murray, who only had 12 points.
“I feel good, you love to play the whole game, I mean, there’s nothing more I can ask for,” he said after the game. “I’m solid, I’m not tired at all.”
Jaden McDaniels is undoubtedly goofy. He’s also a killer, and he played a large role in ending Denver’s season.
Other players contributed to Minnesota’s upset of the Nuggets. Terrence Shannon Jr. rose to the occasion and had 24 points. Rudy Gobert played stout defense on Nikola Jokic throughout the series. Julius Randle had 18 points, and Naz Reid had 15. Jaylen Clark was an effective wingstopper off the bench.
Still, McDaniels’ efforts stood out among the rest of his teammates. He has the sloe-eyed gaze of an assassin, and he spent the entire series killing everybody. It started with McDaniels calling out Denver’s players by name as poor defenders.
Nikola Jokic also took exception to McDaniels’ late-game layup after Minnesota went up 3-1 in Game 4.
“Jaden McDaniels talked all series,” Chris Finch said after Game 6, “and he backed it up all series. That’s called legitimate tough.”
Finch had challenged McDaniels to deliver on his words after McDaniels called out Denver’s defense following Game 2. After Game 3, it felt like Minnesota had the Nuggets figured out. However, that was before Edwards, DiVincenzo, and Dosunmu suffered injuries.
The Wolves still had Gobert anchoring the defense, Randle to provide scoring, and Shannon as the sleeping giant on the bench. Still, they had to lean on McDaniels, a six-year veteran who seemed to have an offensive awakening when he scored 20 points in Game 2. He’s the spiritual successor to Edwards: Fearlessly outspoken, and a sound two-way player.
Therefore, it’s only fitting that McDaniels strolled through the starting five announcements without ever changing his demeanor. He had a job to do and words to back up. He did so with aplomb, snuffing out Denver without raising his heartbeat.
Jaden McDaniels understood the assignment.
