Wolves forward Jaden McDaniels missed out on a place in this season’s All-Defensive teams, receiving just three first team and 34 second team votes, good for sixth among all forwards and 12th overall.
McDaniels finished the season with 76 blocks and 74 steals this season, the only player in the entire league with 75+ blocks and 70+ steals.
The only player in the NBA to tally 75+ blocks and 70+ steals this year?
Jaden McDaniels. pic.twitter.com/tLsL0IE3PT
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 9, 2023
The 22-year old forward finished sixth behind Memphis’ Jaren Jackson, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley Jr., Golden State’s Draymond Green, and Toronto’s O.G. Anunoby who all made first and second team honors. The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo was the only forward to not make the list to finish ahead of McDaniel’s in voting.
McDaniels earlier this season stated , “I do believe I’m the best defender in the NBA.”
“I feel like I should be on there,” said McDaniels earlier this year to The Athletics’ Shams Charania, “and if I’m not, I don’t know who does the votes … they must be crazy.”
Did Mikal Bridges get penalized because he’s considered an “offensive player” now after the trade to Brooklyn?
Not sure I understand that logic.
Nor why Jaden McDaniels was not selected.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) May 9, 2023
Reaction to McDaniels missing out has been widespread from ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweeting he doesn’t understand the logic of McDaniels not being selected, to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski saying it’s “absolutely mind blowing.”
OG Anunoby receiving 19 more 2nd team votes, 11 more 1st team votes than Jaden McDaniels would not have been something I would've wagered on. And Anunoby is a rock-solid defender. #Timberwolves https://t.co/lD0NG924Ug
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) May 9, 2023
McDaniels’ teammate Anthony Edwards received just one first-team and two second-team votes despite finishing third in the league in steals.
Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert didn’t receive any votes but Walker Kessler, the rookie center who was apart of the package to acquire Gobert, did receive one second-team vote.
