{"id":648907,"date":"2026-03-09T13:05:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T13:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/648907\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T13:05:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T13:05:10","slug":"jaden-mcdaniels-grew-offensively-by-simplifying-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/648907\/","title":{"rendered":"Jaden McDaniels Grew Offensively By Simplifying Things"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a big deal when Jaden McDaniels<\/a> smiles during a Minnesota Timberwolves game. When that stone-faced, sleepy-eyed expression finally cracks, it\u2019s an event so rare that it\u2019s worthy of being posted on social media.<\/p>\n

Kyle Anderson + Jaden McDaniels + Mike Conley laughs pic.twitter.com\/cbBok7nUVo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

McDaniels has had a lot to smile about this season, even if he doesn\u2019t do it a lot. He\u2019s averaging career highs in points per game (14.9), field goal attempts (10.9), field goal percentage (51.8%), and three-point percentage (43.1%). McDaniels has developed into an offensive weapon for a Wolves team that sits fourth in the Western Conference, having won eight of their last 10 games.<\/p>\n

McDaniels was once a defensive wing stopper struggling to find his offensive fit. Now, he has tailored his game<\/a> to fit the Wolves like an expensive suit. He has significantly more offensive responsibility than he did last season. Still, McDaniels is keeping things simple and even-keeled to ensure his evolving offense doesn\u2019t affect his elite-level defense.<\/p>\n

In the third quarter of Minnesota\u2019s 117-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, Donte DiVincenzo<\/a> cascaded the ball in transition up to McDaniels, who threw down a one-handed lob finish. DiVincenzo mean-mugged a courtside camera, and the Target Center crowd was in a frenzy with the Wolves in the middle of a 27-12 run.<\/p>\n

JMAC. LOB. \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8 pic.twitter.com\/XGn2Hobgk4<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

McDaniels was expressionless, hustling back on defense.<\/p>\n

That type of sequence is commonplace for Jaden McDaniels. No matter how loud the moment is, and whether or not he is the one completing it \u2014 whether that\u2019s a dunk, crossover, or even a play on defense \u2014 McDaniels tries to keep both sides of his game separate.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou might get a block, or something, a run a little harder,\u201d McDaniels said<\/a> at practice Thursday. \u201cBut most of the time, I am kind of even on both sides. Knowing that I\u2019ve still got to play defense and carrying my offense as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Naturally, loud moments are going to fire up a team, and that\u2019s great. When Anthony Edwards<\/a> throws down a poster and flexes on an opposing player, it sends a shockwave through the entire team, charging them for the rest of the game. However, if a team\u2019s defense is too closely linked with its offense, or vice versa, it creates issues.<\/p>\n

Over the last two seasons, that\u2019s been the case for the Wolves. They will have a game where open shots aren\u2019t falling, the flow is off-beat, and they can\u2019t find a rhythm. In a long, 82-game season, nights like that are inevitable. However, Minnesota will occasionally compound those games by easing off its defensive intensity. Players won\u2019t fully close out on three-point shooters, lack aggression defending at the point of attack, or foul too often when the opposing team attacks the rim.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just feels like when things have not gone well for us offensively, defensively, back to the old let-go-of-the-rope,\u201d Chris Finch said<\/a> after Minnesota\u2019s 111-85 loss to the Golden State Warriors on January 25.<\/p>\n

The Timberwolves tend to get into their own heads when things aren\u2019t going well. It\u2019s why Edwards called<\/a> the team front-runners after a four-game losing streak before Thanksgiving last season. They\u2019ve been successful this year and occasionally looked unstoppable. But the Wolves have had valleys this season where they look disconnected, while their offense and defense are fatally connected. It happened again Saturday afternoon as the Orlando Magic beat the Wolves 119-92 at Target Center.<\/p>\n

Jaden McDaniels never seems to get too high or too low, though. That\u2019s been a huge aspect of his growth with the Wolves. Coming out of college, McDaniels struggled<\/a> with his on-court maturity, and he has had issues limiting his fouling in Minnesota. But now, McDaniels is evolving into a serious, much more under-control defender.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still think for the level of defender he is, he doesn\u2019t get enough respect from the referees,\u201d Finch said<\/a> at practice Friday. \u201cHaving said that, I do believe that his petulant fouling is down. He\u2019s not just fouling out of frustration \u2026 I think that\u2019s attributed to his overall growth as a player, just kind of maturing into the player he\u2019s become on both sides of the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

JMAC HAD THEM SPINNING pic.twitter.com\/v3fz3xeAJk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Finch has put the ball in McDaniels\u2019 hands much more often this season, letting him work in isolation and get downhill. In years past, Finch used McDaniels as an off-ball spacer. However, last season, it became obvious<\/a> that that wasn\u2019t the best use of his talents. As a result, Finch is featuring McDaniels more as a scorer in his system.<\/p>\n

In turn, that has led to McDaniels burning more stamina on offense. How has he ensured he still has enough energy to chase guards like Steph Curry and Jamal Murray<\/a> around screens?<\/p>\n

\u201cThat thought don\u2019t even really cross my mind about trying to stay prepared for pacing myself during the game,\u201d McDaniels said<\/a>. \u201cI just be playing. And if I get tired, I\u2019ll ask to come out, which rarely happens. I don\u2019t know. I just be playing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last season, McDaniels\u2019 offensive limitations made his fit with the team uncomfortable. But now, he\u2019s evolving and realizing the level of player the Wolves have invested in him, without letting that growth impact his already-proven defense. The next step for McDaniels is to become more consistent offensively, limiting the number of games like the one he had on Saturday, where he scored three points and shot 0 of 9 from the floor. Still, McDaniels\u2019 overall offensive output this season has been consistently tantalizing for Minnesota\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

Jaden McDaniels still isn\u2019t smiling often. But that\u2019s emblematic of his even-keeled, simple, and focused approach that the Wolves are greatly benefiting from.<\/p>\n

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