Just before 1:00 am on April 26, Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels sat side by side after a 116-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Game 3 victory gave the Minnesota Timberwolves a 2-1 series lead, with Game 4 forty-eight hours later at the Target Center.
Reid had performed well, going 4 for 7 from the field for an efficient 11 points. He had six rebounds and no turnovers while going +10 off the bench for the Wolves. The man seated next to him, McDaniels, had exploded for 30 points on 13 of 22 shooting. Their running mate, Anthony Edwards, chipped in 29 and had yet to come to the podium.
I asked Reid what it felt like to be in the midst of his fourth straight playoff run with McDaniels and Edwards.
“It’s crazy, I mean it just speaks to the growth and just having each other’s back,” Reid said. “We’ve been together for a long time now, we’re like brothers at this point, and I don’t think anything’s going to change that.”
Naz Reid on Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards making this run
“It’s crazy, I mean it just speaks to the growth and just having each others back… we’ve been together for a long time now, we’re like brothers at this point and I don’t think anything’s going to change that. “ pic.twitter.com/jcRLLzTAF5
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) April 26, 2025
Hindsight is always 20/20; it’s easy for me to say they’d stay together now. Still, looking back, Reid, McDaniels, and Edwards really are like brothers.
Reid’s press conference after Game 3 of the Lakers series was the moment I officially felt confident Reid was re-signing. However, the breadcrumbs have been there all season.
Chris Finch talked about their bond in February.
“They’ve been close since I got here, but it really started in the summers,” Finch said. “They would spend summers here. They almost never went anywhere.”
Chris Finch on Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid’s relationship
“They’ve been close since I got here, but it really started in the summers, they would spend summers here, they almost never went anywhere… then they kind of came of age at about the same time”#BringTheNice pic.twitter.com/jXekNYXlUp
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) February 9, 2025
After the team finishes practice, McDaniels and Reid are always shooting together on the far court. After every single practice, shootaround, and off day. Sometimes Leonard Miller joins. Other times, Joe Ingles. However, McDaniels and Reid were always shooting together.
Here they are in November:
First scrum in almost a week, and Rob Dillingham staying late again to work with Pablo Prigioni.
Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Julius Randle also getting up threes. #BringTheNice #wolvesback#wolves pic.twitter.com/QF0iO6TXpP
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) November 10, 2024
And February:
Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Lenard Miller running 3 point drills post practice#bringthenice pic.twitter.com/8HCoPMBTUY
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) February 23, 2025
And May:
Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Leonard Miller working on threes after shoot around.#WolvesBack pic.twitter.com/Cnmg6n6jO2
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) May 24, 2025
McDaniels and Reid, brothers, doing the same drills they do in the summer, every day, together.
Often, it’s easy to overlook what players do in practice, or when Reid would go out of his way to praise the Timberwolves fans.
“Yeah, it’s crazy, I just seen some more tattoos the other day,” he said in May. “Fans have been with me since Day 1. I remember the first game I played, the Brooklyn Nets game my rookie year, and they were rocking with me then.
“It’s something you dream of to have the support like that, it’s been phenomenal.”
Naz Reid on the fan support he’s received
“Yeah it’s crazy, I just seen some more tattoos the other day… fans been with me since day one. I remember the first game I played, the Brooklyn nets game my rookie year and they were rocking with me then… it’s something you dream of… pic.twitter.com/lQkjxOEAHa
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) May 18, 2025
It’s easy to dismiss an answer like that as an athlete just saying what he’s supposed to say about a fan base. However, like his relationship with McDaniels, it seemed authentic. It seemed honest. It seemed like a guy who truly appreciates the love.
Reid gets love from the fans that even new players to the team notice immediately. Terrence Shannon Jr. spoke on it during the playoffs after someone suggested he got a Naz Reid reaction.
TJ Shannon standing ovation pic.twitter.com/JwlYZDupOy
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 25, 2025
“Nobody gets the Naz Reid treatment,” he said, laughing. “He’s one of a kind. I got a good ovation from the crowd, but it’s nothing like Naz Reid.”
Terrence Shannon Jr on getting a Naz Reid response from the crowd.
“Nobody gets the Naz Reid treatment(laughing) he’s one of a kind, I got a good ovation from the crowd, but it’s nothing like Naz Reid”#WolvesBack pic.twitter.com/CQzxuyaBCV
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) May 25, 2025
As everyone in the room laughed at Shannon’s honesty, you could see the authenticity in Reid’s smile. Who could even suggest that Shannon could get a Naz Reid reaction? The same smile he gave when he found out people were getting his name tattooed, or when he found out about the “Honk If You Love Naz Reid” sign at Parkway Pizza. He has the same reaction when he sees the towels around the world that bear his name.
…and, lastly, Naz Reid on towels, tattoos, trophies and becoming a Target Center fan favorite pic.twitter.com/ete8NWU2uz
— Chris Long (@ChrisLongKSTP) May 31, 2024
It’s been a series of moments this season, workouts, interviews, and smiles that led everyone behind the scenes to be quietly confident that Reid was not leaving Minnesota. Still, until he officially signed his five-year, $125 million extension, there was always some shadow of doubt that maybe Reid could leave.
The options appeared to be there. His hometown Brooklyn Nets had cap space, and the Wolves could have signed and traded him. Still, Reid ultimately chose to stay with his brothers. He chose to stay with his fanbase. He chose to remain in his city. With that choice, he’s also choosing to stay on the path of bringing the Wolves their first championship.