How long before the mainstream media catches on to the fact that Jaden McDaniels is a disruptive force in the NBA? Star players like Paul George and Luka Doncic certainly know that McDaniels is a high-end defender, but the 23-year-old’s offensive game shined in Minnesota’s overtime win over previously unbeaten Boston on Monday night.
No one should be shocked that McDaniels didn’t make ESPN’s list of the 25 best players in the NBA under the age of 25 – a list curated by Tim Bontemps, Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton and André Snellings that ranks them based on future potential.
Anthony Edwards is No. 2 on the list, just behind 24-year-old Luka Doncic and one spot ahead of Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama. It’s unclear how close the foursome was to putting McDaniels in the top 25, but Timberwolves fans know they misfired by leaving him out.
McDaniels flashed his defensive and offensive abilities against Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on Monday night. He was disruptive all game on the defensive end, and after missing eight of his first nine shots he made seven of his next nine attempts, including the game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime and the dagger mid-range jumper to put the game out of reach in overtime.
“Show me a clip where he got scored on in a 1-on-1 situation,” said Edwards, crediting McDaniels for the win. “They ISO’d him ten times in the fourth and nobody scored on him. So he was the reason we won the game. And he hit three, four big shots in the fourth, two in OT. We don’t win that game if he not playing.”
McDaniels wasn’t a finalist for the defensive player of the year award last season. NBA players know how tough McDaniels is, but it seems like the writers have been slow to catch on.
“One of the guys that are ultra talented, that isn’t probably on everybody’s radar, is Jaden McDaniels in Minnesota,” George said on his podcast earlier this year. “He got game. Great defender, good feet, quick hands.”
According to NBA Stats, opponents are shooting only 37% from 2-point range when guarded by McDaniels, which is 15.8% worse than expected. That’s extremely good. For context, Wembayama, who is a defensive weapon with his 7’4” height and 8-foot wingspan, is allowing a 36.1% field-goal percentage on 2-point shots, which is 22% worse than expected.
McDaniels’ offensivr game is developing. He’s averaging just 10.8 points per game but is shooting 54.5% overall and 50% from 3 this season. He hit four 3s en route to 20 points against Boston, including two huge triples late in the fourth quarter. What might’ve gone unnoticed in Monday’s overtime thriller was that McDaniels and Edwards combined for 25 of Minnesota’s 35 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
McDaniels had 10 points in the fourth quarter and had the jumper that served as the knockout punch in overtime. Edwards had just five points in the fourth quarter before exploding for eight in overtime.
To be that elite on defense and then to be on par in crunch time with Edwards as a scorer is high-end – and it screams, “Younger than 25 with insane potential!”
Minnesota has put the league on notice with the No. 1 defense and wins over Denver and Boston, and with that should come more attention from the mainstream media. When that happens, the rest of the NBA world will see how good McDaniels is.
