Former Washington Huskies star Jaden McDaniels used a pair of 25-point games to help lift the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. McDaniels averaged 17.4 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 57.4 percent from the floor — all three higher than his regular season averages — to lead the Timberwolves to a 4-1 series win.
In January, head coach Chris Finch praised the 24-year-old, stating he’s played the best basketball of his career, which showed up against Lakers superstars Lebron James and Luka Doncic.
“It’s the most mature basketball that he’s played in every facet,” Finch said. “He’s fouling less, he’s composed, rebounding, making all the small plays, playmaking, he’s not getting frustrated when his shot doesn’t go in, he’s finding ways to contribute no matter what.”
The 6-foot-9 former first-round pick in the 2020 NBA draft, who originally was selected by the Lakers before being traded on draft night to the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire Dennis Schröder and then again two days later to the Timberwolves, has continued to build off his career-best year in the postseason with his first 30-point game in Game 3 on a 13-of-22 night from the floor. Minnesota will face either Houston Rockets or Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals after the conclusion of their first round series.