Inside The Huskies

All Grown Up, McDaniels Making NBA Name for Himself on Defense

The former Husky has shown great maturity as a pro basketball player.

Dan Raley

In this story:

When he played basketball for the University of Washington three years ago, Jaden McDaniels was a just kid, someone who had this faraway look on his face, often times acting as if he didn't care.

Yet the beauty of his story is he's a teen who grew into a man almost overnight, realizing right away once he entered the NBA what was required of him if he wanted to make a career out of it.

Now look at him: McDaniels cares deeply about his game as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves and where it's taking him. 

"I do believe I'm the best defender in the NBA," he told Shams Charania of the The Athletic and Stadium. 

McDaniels says this after hearing others across the NBA say it first. 

Consider this observation by the Los Angeles Clippers' Paul George: "One of the guys that are [sic] ultra talented that isn't probably on everybody's radar is Jaden McDaniels in Minnesota. He got game. Great defender, good feet, quick hands."

McDaniels helped turn the Timberwolves into a playoff team a year ago and he's part of a 37-37 Minnesota entry currently slotted seventh in the Western Division.

STUDY HALL :: Nick Wosika/USA TODAY Sports

Jaden McDaniels and Timberwolves assistant coach Joe Boylan going over a scouting report. 

OUT OF MY WAY :: Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports

Luka Doncic, the Mavericks superstar, tries to power his way past Jaden McDaniels.

ARMED AND READY :: Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports

Jaden McDaniels is a study of the game in the NBA after a distracted season at the UW. 

WARRIOR AMONG WARRIORS :: Kelley L. Cox/USA TODAY Sports

Jaden McDaniels battles for a rebound with Kevon Looney (5) and Jordan Poole of Golden State.

WIND-UP DOLL :: Nick Wosika/USA TODAY Sports

Jaden McDaniels looks for a big finish on this shot against the Boston Celtics. 

SCATTERING HAWKS :: Nick Wosika/USA TODAY Sports

Three Atlanta players can't stop Jaden McDaniels on this two-hand dunk.

REACH FOR IT :: Ed Szczepanski/USA TODAY Sports

Jaden McDaniels shows off his length in collecting this loose ball as Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox watches. 

DRIVE TIME :: John E. Sokolowski/USA TODAY Sports

Jaden McDaniels and Scottie Barnes of Toronto bump on this dribble drive. 

A well-rounded player and full-time starter, the Federal Way, Washington product, averages 12.3 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game, shooting 51.9 from the floor and 39.5 from 3-point range.

On the ever important defensive side, McDaniels averages nearly a block and a steal per game. Demonstrating his ability to get in someone's personal space and cause problems, he held LeBron James to a 3-for-10 shooting performance earlier this season. 

More than one player has described him as the top perimeter defender in the NBA.

"For them to say those things is eye-opening," McDaniels said. "It makes me feel good about myself."

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Dan Raley
DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.

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