On a frigid Minnesota morning, with snow beginning to fall and the thermometer stuck at 16 degrees, Jaden McDaniels walked into the Hmong International Academy in North Minneapolis without a voice-but with a purpose.
The Timberwolves forward was kicking off the giving-back portion of his annual winter essentials drive, a program he took the reins of last season from teammate Karl-Anthony Towns. The mission?
Simple but powerful: provide warmth, books, and joy to local kids during the toughest stretch of the year. And even though his voice had vanished the night before, McDaniels showed up-right on time, no less-to make sure the show went on.
This wasn’t just a drop-by appearance. McDaniels was the centerpiece of a full-on surprise event for more than 200 elementary school students.
Each child received a new Timberwolves beanie, a swag bag, an autographed picture of the team’s beloved mascot Crunch, and a book from the education station. The highlight was a reading of The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Crunch-Crunch’s favorite, of course-with McDaniels and the mascot teaming up for a spirited performance.
Now, picture this: a 6-foot-11 NBA player sneaking around a corner, waiting for his cue while a gym full of kids buzzed with anticipation. When Crunch made his grand entrance to roaring applause, McDaniels followed, towering over the crowd but blending right in with the energy and excitement. Despite barely being able to speak, he still found a way to participate, helping students win prizes and engaging with them throughout the event.
It would’ve been easy for McDaniels to bow out. The Timberwolves were coming off a tough 116-110 loss to Memphis the night before and had a big matchup against Oklahoma City looming.
He was under the weather-though not sick-and the weather itself wasn’t exactly inviting. But none of that kept him away.
Instead, McDaniels leaned in.
After the reading, he joined the students outside in the sleet for the education station portion of the event. There, he handed out books, signed autographs on everything from t-shirts to notebooks, and made sure each kid left with a little more than they came in with. One young fan even braved the cold without a coat just to show off his McDaniels gear-and Jaden made sure to sign every piece of it.
Over an hour into the event, as the final wave of students came through, they brought handmade posters and cards for McDaniels-thank-you notes from every class. He flipped through them with a smile, his voice now completely gone, but his presence speaking volumes.
Afterward, McDaniels talked briefly-off the record-about what giving back to Minnesota means to him. “Oh, for sure, I’m comfortable here,” he said.
“I like doing this. Even some of the kids here, I’ve seen them before.
And it’s important.”
That connection to the community isn’t just talk. McDaniels has made giving back a regular part of his life in Minnesota.
This is the second year of his winter essentials drive, but his outreach goes far beyond one event. In the spring, he surprised a group of teenagers from Urban Ventures with free haircuts at a local barbershop, even donating $10,000 to support confidence-building programs.
In the summer, he hosted 20 students for a basketball workout, provided lunch, and handed out backpacks and school supplies-again, without fanfare.
Most of the time, McDaniels does this work quietly. No cameras.
No press. Just a player using his platform to lift others up.
But every now and then, like this past Thursday, the curtain gets pulled back just enough to see the impact he’s making.
And here’s the thing: McDaniels didn’t need a voice to make a statement. His actions said everything.
In a league filled with stars who shine on the court, McDaniels is showing that the real legacy might be built off of it. Minnesota has embraced him-and clearly, the feeling is mutual.