Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels has goals on the field and in the community

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels’ fame as an elite defender grew last season when he was named to the 2024 NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Off the field, he hopes to guard Minneapolitans from the cold winter that is also coming.

McDaniels’ inaugural Jaden’s Winter Essentials Drive began on November 18 and runs through December 6. The Federal Way, Washington resident is encouraging Timberwolves fans and residents to donate latest and gently used winter items reminiscent of boots, hats, globes and gloves, scarves and snow pants in all sizes to their local Hy-Vee grocery stores. McDaniels donated $10,000 to buy additional winter and family items and delivered 500 latest winter coats in partnership with Operation Warm in January in Minneapolis. He also organized similar winter clothing drives in Seattle.

“I haven’t hosted a basketball camp yet and I wanted to do something other than give back with basketball,” McDaniels told Andscape. “And Minnesota, because it’s so cold every single day, I want my big coat here. The kids will probably need double the amount I gave (in January). I’m just trying to provide back to the community. Some of those kids are my fans.

“It just feels good to see my face (the ads fueling the coat). I just allow them to know that I help them and care about them.

Selflessness can also be McDaniels’ fame on the Timberwolves’ defensive backcourt.

McDaniels averaged 23.3 points and once scored 51 points in a game as a senior at Federal Way High School in Washington. He also averaged 13 points as a real freshman at the University of Washington in 2019-20. But whether in highschool or college, the twenty eighth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft also took pride in his defense.

Defense is McDaniels’ calling card in the NBA.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder played part-time during his first two seasons in the NBA, showing the best promise as an extended, versatile defender. With shooting guards Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell as teammates in their early seasons, McDaniels focused on defense with the goal of becoming a full-time starter in 2022-23.

Since then, he has not left the starting lineup.

“You have to know your body. Know what you are good at,” McDaniels said of his keys to being a solid defender. “I’m fast, but not as fast as the little guard. So when I’m playing against a small defender, I just know I actually have to provide him some space and use my length. I can reach out my hand and you will not pass me by. And then in terms of larger guys, I take into consideration what I’d do if someone was guarding me.

“So when I’m playing against people and they’re ahead, I do know they will attempt to hit. That’s what I’d do. So I’m sort of pulling the chair, protecting them. So when they fight to leap up, they find your body and eventually fall there. So just the little things.

McDaniels said being the fourth or fifth option on offense sometimes requires humility. But the “mental game” helped him overcome these thoughts and he understands that defense is his superpower. On October 23, 2023, the Timberwolves signed a five-year contract extension with McDaniels for $136 million.

“Relax, you have to accept this role if you want to play. “In certain situations, when I come in here right away, I think if they needed a goal, they had Ant (Edwards), KAT (Towns) and D-Lo (Russell),” McDaniels said. – That’s why we would have liked another person to play defense. I’ve played defense all my life. So it wasn’t a difficult transformation. But I still have my offensive bag and I still want to point out it off. It’s just not the time now.

“You must be really mentally strong to play defense and run up and down the court a number of times and perhaps not even touch (the ball) and shoot a number of corner kicks. You definitely must be mentally strong.

McDaniels was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the first time last season after earning the ninth-most votes. His 6-foot-11½-inch wingspan has played a key role in him being an extended defender, rim protector and stealer. Though stoic by nature and slender, McDaniels plays with stamina and feistiness. He can defend elite scorers like Devin Booker, Jamal Murray and James Harden and tall, shooting forwards like Michael Porter Jr. and Kevin Durant.

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

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

“Last season I blocked (Denver Nuggets forward) Aaron Gordon in the playoffs and I felt like LeBron (James) blocking the (2016) NBA Finals. Taking care of Jamal Murray, KD and Devin Booker in the playoffs shows versatility,” McDaniels said.

After advancing to the 2024 Western Conference Finals, McDaniels and the Timberwolves were projected to have a potentially franchise-changing season ahead of them. Edwards, two-time All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert returns. Minnesota made major changes before the season, adding three-time All-Star forward Julius Randle and veteran defenseman Donte DiVincenzo to Towns’ squad. With Gobert anchoring the paint, McDaniels takes on difficult tasks in the wing defense.

However, Minnesota (RECORD UPDATE) has been disappointing to date ahead of Friday’s game against the LA Clippers (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET).

“We’re having some difficulties right now, but it’s still early,” McDaniels said. “We are still in a superb place. In the West (in the conference rankings) it is vitally tight. If we keep our streak of 5 games in a row, we are able to get back into the top seven. Let’s get it together.

If we collect the ball and gain possession, we are able to beat anyone. It just shows how good we might be after we play against the best teams. We just have to handle the other teams. Don’t underestimate weaker teams.

There was excellent news for McDaniels as he was in a position to rejoice Thanksgiving along with his family in Minneapolis as an alternative of at the team hotel on the road.

On Monday, McDaniels told Andscape that his parents, Will McDaniels and Angela Jackson, could be amongst 10 relations in town for Thanksgiving. He hoped his brother, G League Capital City Go-Go forward Jalen McDaniels, could be in attendance. Jaden McDaniels also has a brand new member of the family: son Mekhi.

“I love Thanksgiving. You can eat all the good food with your family and relax and unwind,” McDaniels said. “My mom and dad must be here and I hope my brother could make it. We are adding a brand new one to the family. I wish he could eat some food. He’s missing out this 12 months.

“At the McDaniels household, there are all the time a variety of people around the crib during Thanksgiving. Cousins ​​and family reunion. Everyone rests and eats and we finish late. We probably won’t finish eating until 9:30 or 10 at night. The whole family is nearby. It’s an everyday Thanksgiving.

McDaniels credits his parents with a selfless 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 superb way for the Timberwolves, he dreams of creating the NBA All-Defensive first team for the first time this season.

“That’s one of my goals, to be first team,” McDaniels said. “Last season I used to be in the second team. It’s an enormous goal. As the first team, we take it one step at a time. For me, he keeps an eye fixed on the best players. I do not lock them up, but I make their lives harder. I’m reducing their (shooting) percentage.

“If they take 10 shots, I’ll make them miss 20 or 30. (Defense is about) being present. Being really tenacious on defense regardless of what.