The Minnesota Timberwolves’ 3-0 start has put a spotlight on the newcomers, with LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga settling in quickly. But Jaden McDaniels has been just as important, maybe more so, because he’s giving Minnesota real value on both ends of the floor.
McDaniels is putting up 15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.7 stocks while shooting 57.1/36.4/100. The scoring eruption some expected hasn’t arrived yet, but his volume is inching up, and he’s finding ways to score from different spots. That kind of growth could still come.
What stands out most is how he’s filling the role the Timberwolves need from him. McDaniels has been punishing mismatches and creating offense when the possession calls for it. He can rise over smaller defenders in the mid-range or put pressure on the rim, which makes him a valuable secondary option when the offense needs a spark.
That showed up in last Friday’s game against the Orlando Magic. Ball and Anthony Edwards combined to shoot just 5-for-36, but McDaniels helped cover for the rough night by scoring 15 points. He and Ayo Dosunmu were Minnesota’s most reliable offensive options in that game.
He’s also been a clean fit alongside the stars. McDaniels is hitting 42.9 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and continues to move well without the ball. As the Timberwolves’ third option, he’s doing exactly what a high-end complementary wing should do: stay ready, stay active, and make life easier for the primary creators.
Defensively, this is still his calling card. The Timberwolves haven’t faced a true perimeter star yet, but McDaniels has been rock solid on the ball anyway, holding opponents to 36.6 percent shooting from the field. That’s a small sample, sure, but it’s a loud one.
His early matchups have included Andrew Wiggins, Franz Wagner, and RJ Barrett. Wiggins and Wagner show how flexible he can be against small forwards, while Barrett is a more familiar type of assignment for him. Against Barrett, McDaniels was especially sharp, limiting him to 2-for-7 shooting.
There’s been more of his secondary rim protection and defensive playmaking, too. He’s averaging 1.7 blocks per game, and with Kuminga bringing strong defense of his own, McDaniels has had a few more chances to roam and make plays off the ball. That could keep happening as Minnesota sees more perimeter-heavy opponents.
That’s what makes him so valuable: he can be the defensive chess piece, the connective offensive wing, and the guy who quietly tilts a game when the stars are off. Early on, this looks like one of his most complete defensive seasons yet, and the Timberwolves are benefiting from every bit of it.
In Other News...
Anthony Edwards Has The Wolves Drawing Real Attention Already
Before the home opener, the Timberwolves were already drawing attention from the other sideline, with Raptors coach Darko Rajakovi making it clear he sees Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball as part of a young backcourt that can grab a leaguewide audience. He also pointed to the overall talent on Minnesotas roster, a sign the Wolves are starting to look like a team opponents are studying closely instead of simply preparing for.
Toronto arrives shorthanded, too, after ruling out Kawhi Leonard because of knee swelling, which only sharpens the backdrop for a game that has a little more weight than a typical early-season matchup. For Minnesota, this is the kind of night that can help confirm the growing buzz around Edwards and the group around him, especially when an opposing coach is already talking about the matchup in flattering terms. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Showed Off A New Strength In A Blowout Win
The Timberwolves first home game of the season came with the kind of cushion teams usually earn only after theyve built a real identity. Minnesota rolled past Toronto by 23 points, making it three straight wins by 20 or more and offering another reminder that this group can now overwhelm opponents in stretches even when the rotation is forced to shift around. With LaMelo Ball limited by foul trouble, the Wolves leaned deeper into the bench, and players like Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. helped keep the pressure on.
There was still a flaw tucked inside the blowout, though, and its one Minnesota will want to clean up as the schedule tightens. The offense kept humming, but the defensive rebounding lagged, especially in minutes when Rudy Gobert sat, allowing Toronto extra chances it probably never should have had in a game that lopsided. For a team playing this well, those empty possessions are the kind of detail that can matter a lot more when the margin shrinks. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves 3-0 Start Is Fueling Real Belief In Their Depth
Three games into the season, the Timberwolves have already shown why depth can matter as much as star power in the grind of an NBA schedule. Minnesotas 3-0 start came against playoff-caliber Eastern Conference teams, and the common thread has been a bench that keeps producing instead of just surviving minutes before the stars return. Role players have looked comfortable in real rotation roles, giving the Wolves a more layered feel than a team still trying to find its footing.
Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Trey Lyles have all given Minnesota useful minutes, the kind that can change the tone of a game when the first unit needs a breather. Jonathan Kuminga has fit that same mold as a complementary starter, giving the Wolves efficient offense without needing the ball to dominate possession, and that kind of balance is exactly what makes this early run feel meaningful. The real question now is how long this level of contribution can hold, because if the supporting cast stays this reliable, Minnesotas early belief might be grounded in something real. [Read more 🡒]