Jaden McDaniels: ‘I could be one of the best two-way players in the NBA’
Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels is starting to scratch the surface of his ceiling and show why Minnesota has made him virtually untouchable in trade talks with rival teams over the years.
McDaniels and Anthony Davis are the only two players with 30 or more steals and blocks this season. McDaniels is holding opponents to a 51.8 defensive field goal percentage at the rim. Per PBP Stats, among the 68 players who have defended at least 95 attempts at the rim, opponents are only shooting worse against two former Defensive Player of the Year winners, Draymond Green and Giannis Antetokounmpo. McDaniels also ranks tied for fourth in contested threes (3.7).
McDaniels discussed Minnesota’s adjustment after the Rudy Gobert trade, expectations for the Timberwolves this season, striving to be an All-Star and All-Defensive Team player, and much more in our HoopsHype interview.
When you got picked 28th in the draft, did you come into the league with a chip on your shoulder?
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Jaden McDaniels: Yeah, I’d say that. I didn’t know where I was going to go in the draft. Going 28th, I was happy to get drafted, don’t get me wrong. I’d just say being able to play the players that were drafted above me and being able to showcase my skills against them and their front offices.
What goes into your defensive versatility? Did you watch anyone that you try to model your game defensively?
JM: During pre-draft, before I got to the NBA, I used to watch guys like Pascal (Siakam) and Jonathan Isaac. Now, I watch myself play defense. What I really do is study the people I’m playing against before the game and on downtime by watching highlights of people. For me, my length, how tall I am, and how fast I can move my feet help me a lot. Being able to move as quickly as guards and guard one through four helps me the most.
Have any coaches or teammates helped you improve defensively?
David Berding-Getty Images
JM: You can say Pat Bev (Patrick Beverley) for sure. He gave my little tips last year throughout the year. Our coach ET (Elston Turner). He helps us. He’s our defensive coach. On certain games, he helps me on the court. He’s an older dude, but he still gets on the court and helps. I remember at the beginning of the year, I wasn’t that good at shedding screens and stuff, but he helped me get through those with tips with which dudes are good screeners.
Often, players hear their names in rumors, but in your case, the reports have always been Minnesota doesn’t want to trade you and views you as a core piece. What does that mean to you?
JM: I don’t really try to look at those things even though I hear certain things like keeping me in Minnesota in trade talks. I try not to think about it at all. I let the business do its own job and continue to get better every day. It can happen to anyone. I try not to look at the business side of the game until later when it matters for me.
When you look at the core here with you, Towns, Edwards, and Russell, what do you see?
JM: I see versatility in how we all play. At any point in the game, I feel like we can all take over defensively or offensively. I like our core because we all want to see each other be successful during the game and in life. We trust each other on the court and have each other’s back. That’s a good thing to have with core teammates.
What do you think your upside can be as a player?
JM: I feel like my upside is as high as I want it to be. I feel like I can control where I’ll be with how hard I work. Knowing that my potential is out the roof inspires me to keep working and try to be the best player I can be.
What long-term goals do you want to accomplish in your career?
David Berding-Getty Images
JM: Sometime, I’d love to be an All-Star. Right now, things I feel are accomplishable are being on the All-Defensive Team. I feel like I could be one of the best two-way players in the NBA. Then, continuing to build off that to All-Star games to being a playoff MVP and all those types of things.
Who would you compare your game to now or a retired player?
Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
JM: I’d say a little bit like Brandon Ingram with how our length, size, and ability to create our own shot in the mid-range area. And just like the growth he took in a couple of years, he took that leap to win Most Improved Player. He’s a guy I look up to and watch as well.
What have you thought of the Rudy Gobert trade and what he’s brought to the team as you guys are adjusting to him?
JM: I’d say it’s going good. We knew there were going to be ups and downs with all of us getting used to playing with each other. I feel like Rudy’s been doing a good job of protecting the rim. He’s teaching me a lot about different ways how to guard people. He’s been in the league so long and won the Defensive Player of the Year award. I’ve been soaking up the game from him.
What are fair expectations after the Gobert trade for the team this season?
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
JM: I feel like we’ll go to the playoffs and try and get further than we did last year. Our goal is the second or third round. Our main goal is the championship, but we’ve got to start somewhere, so I’ll say do better than we did last year for right now.
What did you think when Karl-Anthony Towns talked about championship expectations?
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
JM: You’ve gotta have that extreme confidence. I don’t knock him for saying that. I feel like we’re a good enough team that if we put all the pieces together and buy into our system, I feel like we can make it pretty far. The comment was probably a little too early, but it’s a long season. I feel like we have the chance to go as far as we want.
Where are this team and your development a third of the way through the season?
JM: For the team, it’s been a little up and down, but there have been certain times this season where we click, and we’re playing our best basketball. Then, there’s sometimes I feel like with KAT being down, it hurts us. Defensively, sometimes we slip. I feel like it’s going to come together. It has to work for us. That’s what we’re saying. Continue to stick with it.
For me, I’d say staying aggressive offensively and getting to my spots while continuing to shoot the three really well. I want to continue to guard the best player on the other team and make it as tough as I can.
What’s it been like with coach Chris Finch behind the scenes? Any fun stories you have of him?
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
JM: Finch is cool. He’s laid back. I like Finch a lot. I don’t know if it’s funny, but he always used to tell us last year when our habits would go bad, “There’s a reason I haven’t lost weight. It’s because I haven’t taken the time to, or I don’t care.” He’d try to compare that to us doing bad on defense or doing something bad on offense. He came in the beginning of this year in the film room talking about how he lost 10 pounds.
What have you seen from your brother, Jalen McDaniels, in Charlotte?
Brian Westerholt-USA TODAY Sports
JM: When I watch him, he’s super aggressive offensively now. It’s like he’s playing how he was in college. He gets to the mid-range, and he’s shooting the three well. I see him get transition rebounds and go coast-to-coast. Defensively, he guards the best players as well. He’s trying to be like me a little bit.
You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on Twitter.
[listicle id=1834359]
[listicle id=1833781]
[listicle id=1835587]
