20-year-old rookie Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels is turning heads with his play as he continues to carve out more playing time, per Chris Hine of The Star Tribune.
“I think he’s way better than people are realizing,” Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell raved. “He knows the game better than people expect. He makes these exciting plays out of nowhere.”
McDaniels was selected by the Wolves with the No. 28 pick out of Washington in the 2020 draft. He is averaging 17.4 MPG in 17 games. McDaniels played nearly 24 minutes in last night’s 120-118 loss to the Thunder, scoring 8 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the floor.
There’s more out of the Northwest Division:
- Veteran Thunder forward Darius Miller is relishing his time back on a basketball court after missing all of the 2019/20 season due to a ruptured Achilles, as Joe Mussato of the Oklahoman details. “I was trying to figure out how to walk again last year around this part of the season,” Miller said, “so I’m just happy to be able to get out here and compete and play basketball again.” The 30-year-old got injured in a three-on-three game in August 2019 while with the Pelicans. He has played in six games for the Thunder. Miller scored a season-high nine points on three made three-pointers in a 106-103 Friday loss to the Timberwolves.
- Nuggets rookie point guard R.J. Hampton has shown enough flashes to potentially convince the club he deserves more playing time, according to Mike Singer of The Denver Post. “He’s proven he’s trustworthy,” head coach Mike Malone said after Hampton played a career-high 27 minutes last night in a 119-114 loss to the Kings. The No. 24 pick in the 2020 draft, who spent his age-18 season with the New Zealand Breakers, scored a career-high 7 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
- Veteran Thunder center Mike Muscala has entered the league’s concussion protocol after suffering a concussion during the club’s 120-118 defeat of the Timberwolves last night, per Joe Mussatto of the Oklahoman (Twitter link).
If you watched Jaden McDanields at Washington. You saw a long SF who moved like a SG a big wing player. I know this gets said too much. But he really did remind you of KD. Now as good as he could look. He would also get lost in gms. He started season as a top 10 pick as a freshman. I believe he was as high as 4-5. You figured he could be at least an Isaac. Remember this was suppose to be a weak draft. Well he disappeared in games. Then disappeared from lottery. Then almost fell out of 1st rd. rd going 28th. It was wise to take a chance on him. Maybe Minny can straighten him out. And help him find his place in NBA. 20 yrs old hopefully he’s finally growing up.
Thought McDaniels would go slightly earlier than he did, and have been saying he needs to play all season. They finally started giving him minutes, and it has worked for them. Gives them some of what they lost when they moved James Johnson, and helps in an area of desperate need for them at the 4
Kid needs 20 lbs of muscle. He’ll end up being a better pick than Edwards.